Discovering the Hands & Hearts Behind Excellence Pakistan
🕌 Introduction: More Than Just a Product
Behind every vibrant Ajrak, hand-thrown clay pot, or intricately embroidered patch in the Excellence Pakistan subscription box lies a powerful human story — one of tradition, skill, and soul. These aren’t mass-produced factory items. They are the lifeblood of Pakistan’s living heritage, carefully preserved by artisans whose crafts are passed down through generations.
In this post, we invite you behind the scenes to “Meet the Artisan” — the people whose hands make each piece special. Through photo diaries, field visits, and real interviews, we dive into the untold stories of Pakistani craftsmanship.
📸 Step 1: Journey Into the Villages — Where Craft Begins
Our team regularly travels deep into the provinces of Pakistan — from the deserts of Tharparkar to the lush valleys of Hunza — to meet the local artisans.
Photo Diary Highlights:
- Multan: Potters working in open courtyards with wheels passed down from their ancestors
- Sindh: Women weaving Ajrak patterns under mud-brick shade
- Gilgit: Gemstone polishers carefully sanding raw stones near icy rivers
- Balochistan: Nomadic families handcrafting silver jewelry in makeshift desert tents
Each visit is not just a transaction — it’s a cultural exchange, a mutual respect for heritage.
“We don’t just buy — we listen, we ask, we share stories over tea,” says Raheela Arshad, Founder of Excellence Pakistan.
🧕 Step 2: Meet Zubaida from Bahawalpur – Master of Phulkari Embroidery
🪡 Craft: Phulkari Shawls
Location: Bahawalpur, Punjab
Age: 52
Legacy: 3rd generation artisan
Zubaida’s eyes light up as she unfolds her embroidery frame. Her work is a riot of color and precision, capturing Punjab’s spirit in thread.
“I learned from my mother, who learned from hers. Every stitch is a prayer, every flower a story,” she tells us.
She now trains 10 young girls in her village — turning this dying craft into an opportunity for the next generation. Each Phulkari coaster in our box is a piece of that legacy.
Fun Fact: One Phulkari patch can take up to 18 hours to complete.
📷 Photo Idea: Zubaida sewing by window light with her students.
👳♂️ Step 3: Noor Din the Potter – Multani Blue Pottery Legend
🏺 Craft: Blue Pottery
Location: Multan
Years Active: 40
Trademark: Peacock motifs in cobalt blue
Noor Din is known throughout Multan as the “Clay Whisperer.” His pottery techniques date back to the Indus Valley Civilization, and he uses natural dyes and handmade kilns.
“Clay is patient. You must be patient with it. It tells you what it wants to become,” he shares.
His son now works beside him, ensuring this 5000-year-old craft doesn’t fade.
Every Blue Pottery tile or fridge magnet in your box is hand-thrown, sun-dried, and wood-fired — no two are ever alike.
📷 Photo Idea: Close-up of a spinning wheel with clay forming a vase.
🧕 Step 4: Shazia — The Bead Queen of Kalash
💎 Craft: Kalash Bead Jewelry
Location: Chitral, KPK
Culture: Kalasha minority
Age: 27
Shazia’s bead necklaces are colorful, intricate, and spiritual. Each color represents a part of Kalash life — green for fertility, blue for the river, red for strength.
“I wear what I make. I gift it to brides. And now it’s in your box — that makes me proud.”
Shazia is the first woman in her valley to sell directly online through Excellence Pakistan’s Artisan Program.
In the Box: Kalash-inspired bead bracelet or anklet.
📷 Photo Idea: Shazia threading bright beads on a mountain rooftop.
🧵 Step 5: How We Preserve Their Voices
✨ Behind-the-Scenes Approach:
- All artisans are fairly compensated (above-market rates)
- Their names and QR-linked stories are included in every box
- A portion of proceeds funds local training workshops in embroidery, pottery, and dyeing
We don’t hide our artisans — we celebrate them. Our mission is to give their stories as much value as the items themselves.
In Every Box:
- Artisan Bio Cards
- “Crafted in [Province]” labels
- Link to exclusive behind-the-scenes video
🎁 Why This Matters
❤️ It Builds Emotional Connection
When you receive an item with a story, it becomes more than decor — it becomes a conversation starter, a memory, a meaningful gift.
🌍 It Promotes Ethical Consumption
In a world of fast fashion and factory-made souvenirs, supporting handmade work means preserving cultural identity and empowering communities.
🤝 It Supports Women and Local Economies
Over 70% of our artisans are women. Many use this income to educate their daughters or reinvest in their small village cooperatives.
📣 What You Can Do
- Share your favorite artisan item on social media with the hashtag #ExcellencePakistan
- Scan the QR Code in your box to watch the artisan video stories
- Gift a subscription to someone who values culture, connection, and craft
🧶 Closing: The Hands That Tell Our Story
Every Excellence Pakistan box is stitched, shaped, painted, or polished by real people with real stories. They are the quiet custodians of Pakistan’s rich artistic legacy.
Next time you hold that Ajrak coaster or Blue Pottery bowl, remember — someone like Zubaida, Noor Din, or Shazia put their heart into your hands.
And that, more than anything, is what makes our box truly exceptional.
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