Beena Kannan of Seematti Retail Outlets

Seematti is where fashion is constantly being updated.

Seematti presents exquisite white wedding sarees ideal for bridal & party wear.

Traditional Kancheepuram comes in a new avatar at Seematti.

Seematti has been organizing fabric festivals at regular intervals. The more famous ones were Shaadi ki haveli, Jaal Tarang and the like. Of late, some designer collections are also showcased.

Beena Kannan is the Managing Director and Lead Designer of Seematti textiles, the most preferred shopping destinations for Keralites. She discovered her passion for saree design on completion of graduation.

Beena Kannan knows fashion like the back of her palm.

Beena designs bridal brocades with pearl-beaded gold and silver strands to embellish sarees. She travels throughout India and visits remote villages to source the different varieties of sarees.

Beena Kannan has designed world’s longest handwoven silk saree that won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of Records. Besides she is a gifted classical dancer.So all those of you who would like to be in tune with the latest fashion find out what the Fashion Diva herself recommends.

From being a hard core business woman, a mother of three, a mother-in-law, " no, not yet a grandma", a young widow, the strength behind her organisation, Ms. Kannan is now taking her hobby, dance, as seriously as her business and home.

World’s Longest Silk Saree
Beena Kannan has designed world’s longest handwoven silk saree that won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of Records. It is 486.6 metres long. The total Saree weight is 72.583 kg. The total weight of the silk used in the crafting was around 57kg, while the cost of making the saree was around Rs 2.04 crore. Intricate designs on this record-making saree reflect India’s rich cultural legacy. The themes of the pallavs are varied and encompass history, epics, folklore, myths, famous personalities, places and monuments of India.

This is an extract from KV's article at MouthShut http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Sheematti_-_Kochi-151543-1.html

"I personally spoke to Beena Kannan at this point and politely asked her cant billing area and cash payment area be arranged close to each other so that customers dont have to face the inconvenience of wading through one end of the stuffy room to another when its already packed tight?? The reply she gave me was one of the most rude and arrogant answers ever!! Her whole attitude was ’shop if you want to, else get lost’. And obviously mistaking me for a student, she even started giving me gyan saying ’management is more than your MBA books’ !! This, from a woman who is praised as being very smart and business savvy!! Very sad Beena Kannan."

I agree with KV about all the suggestions she made.

Catching Beena at the wrong time was the only stupid thing KV did...

Had she met or wrote to Beena I am sure the re-action and attitude would have been different and more acceptable.
KV caught her in the middle of a busy sale when (am only guessing) Beena was wondering what she must be doing next year about the space management and re-designing the store.

And for Beena Kannan, since she already knows that the management is not just about what the MBA books say, I think she must be more polite and not let her personal anger, busy buisiness schedules or a hang-over from the previous night party reflect when interacting with general public. Every celebrity knows it...have you seen Rani Mukherjee handle media and humiliating questions in public? learn from her patience...

The House of Seematti inaugurated its 100th Anniversary Celebrations 2010 on 18th December 2009 at Gokulam Park Convention Centre, Kochi in front of an august audience. The Indian woman?s greatest asset ?The Silk Sari? got a drastic make over at this stellar star & celebrity studded glitzy event lasting 3 hours from 6 p.m.

Beena Kannan, the CEO of the Seematti Group was the cynosure of the event alongside such stars like Mandira Bedi & Sameera Reddy who appeared in Seematti?s ad ? campaigns over the last 4 years. They were accompanied by renowned models like Amrita Patki, Veditha Pratap Singh, Snitha Mahe et. Al.

From contemporary to classic, designer to embroidered, machined to handmade silk saris, the array of saris donned by the models on the ramp were exciting to watch. The models sizzled down the ramp with mood music & coloured lighting to match.

Mandira in Jean Sari was really awesome. Sameera dazzled in a Light Shimmer Brocade both which fall under Seematti?s Beena Centennial Collection 2010?. Mandira opined ?The Jeans Sari is chic & innovative if you are carrying it with the right accessories & attitude. The light shimmer brocade is a 6 yard wonder made more user-friendly by blending traditional designs & soft silks.

It has a pastel subdued coppery look, golden in hue, falls gracefully and is easy to wear and carry elegantly too! Yet another eye-catching design came up in the cock-tail series which can easily replace the evening gown most of these sari have crystals & stones rich in colour jazzed up with sexy waist belts & designer blouses to add pep & zest.

Sameera Reddy, the incumbent face of Seematti for 2010 appeared glamorous on the ramp. Amidst tastefully designed sounds & lights, vibrant music & dances, Beena Kannan, Seematti?s lead designer opined. ?The focus will be on sustaining a unique identity for Seematti without losing sight of our culture & traditions.?

This one-of-its kind event began with Beena Kannan adorning her father V. Thiruvenkitam with a gold bordered shawl. Solemn tributes were paid to the founder of Seematti Late S. Veeriah Reddiar who incepted Seematti at Alappuzha in 1910. Mrs. Seetha Lakshmi Thiruvenkitam & Veeriah (Kannan) were solemnly remembered.

On this momentous occasion, mementos were presented to Seematti?s master weavers & sari resource people across India?s metros. Winding up the event, Beena Kannan ceremoniously cut the cake created in the symbolic 100 format & unleashed the year long centennial celebration slated all through 2010.

Restriction on collection of parking fees

Kochi: The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ernakulam has directed Beena Kannan, Managing Director, Seematti Textiles to refrain from collecting parking fee from the customers who visit her shop. The direction came on a complaint filed by K.J. Mathew of Muvattupuzha.

The Forum headed by its president, A.Rajesh said that examination of material produced before it would show that ex-facie, the practice of collecting parking fee from customers would be tantamount to “unconscionable business practice”.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 28, 2010