Faraj Beading: the game changer, A Legacy of Innovation and Success in Fabric Embellishment . 

 

In the historic heart of Damascus, Syria, among the ancient alleyways of the world's oldest capital, my grandfather founded Faraj Apparel in 1920. This garment manufacturing and decorating enterprise flourished throughout the Middle East under my family's stewardship for generations. I vividly remember observing my father sketching innovative designs and bringing them to life on garments, igniting my passion for the business. This early exposure laid the groundwork for my own journey, which eventually led me to follow in their footsteps after relocating to New Jersey in 1978.

 

After my bachelor's degree in business, I embarked on a quest for employment that serendipitously intersected with a chance encounter—a meeting with a New York handbag designer. Drawing upon the expertise honed through generations in fabric decoration, I ventured into designing embellishments for handbags, igniting a spark of creativity that would illuminate my path. 

 

With a modest Bonnaz embroidery machine left to me by my father's frequent business trips to the US, I embarked on a new venture. Dusting off the machinery and utilizing leather pieces for appliqué, I crafted designs that surpassed expectations, finding resonance in major department stores. 

Inspired by this success, I founded Faraj Inc in 1986, immersing myself in various embroidery and fabric decorating techniques while enriching my knowledge through extensive travel to every major apparel decorating show worldwide, by combining insights from my family's business with contemporary innovations. 

 

My journey led me to the sun-drenched shores of Florida, where I revolutionized swimwear designs by reengineering a chain-stitch embroidery machinery to work seamlessly on Lycra. This breakthrough gave birth to a highly successful line, featured prominently in major fashion magazines and films. Yet, despite the success, the pull of New York's garment district beckoned. Thus, I sold my business and returned to New Jersey to rekindle the flame of creativity.

 

Armed with a wealth of knowledge and a thirst for innovation, I used my extensive knowledge in embellishment to always be ahead of the competition and offer simple yet unique and intricate design where it would be near impossible for my competition to duplicate and we did everything in house including digitizing, for instance, I would combine and mix any of these techniques to create a look that is very unique but yet affordable, some of my techniques are Bonnaz and automatic Soutach and ribbon embroidery, we even made our own Soutache so we can control color and production, Three Thread, Guimpe, Applique, Automatic embroidery, Nail heads, Rhinestones, Transfers, Flocking, Screen printing, Caviar Beading, Sequin, laser and Ultrasonic cutting, Trapunto, Quilting, Hand painting and much more. 

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For me it was a wonderful journey as I’ve always harbored a deep passion for my work. For example, if I spotted a woman adorned in embellished attire, I couldn't rest until I understood its crafting process. This habit amusingly landed me in trouble a few times until my wife clarified that my fascination was directed at the fabric, not the person. Dedication, passion, and love have been integral to my work ethic. For over two decades, my routine involved collaborating with New York fashion designers in the afternoons, brainstorming embellishment designs, swiftly sketching concepts for them and coordinating with my factory to actualize our ideas so a finished sample can be delivered the following morning, I even had a closet and shower installed at the factory to maximize efficiency. This dedication to efficiency has been instrumental in our success.

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I became a prominent figure in the bustling corridors of the New York garment district, offering unique and affordable designs to major apparel manufacturers such as Calvin Klein, Cynthia Rowley, Betsy Johnson, and many more.

This led Faraj's work to be featured on numerous front covers of WWD and earn the title of the number one domestic garment decorator in the USA by Stylesight magazine.

 

As the industry landscape shifted towards overseas production and many apparel manufacturers and fabric decorators shuttered their operations, I embraced innovation. Pioneering several groundbreaking apparel decorating techniques, including our patented Faraj Beading technique which has been instrumental in keeping hundreds of US workers employed. Click here to browse through some of our endless beading designs. 

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Our revolutionary approach to beading transcended mere embellishment—it became a verb synonymous with excellence, reshaping the fashion landscape. Faraj Beading has the ability to threadlessly bead garments with precision and computerized placements that never thought was possible to design within the history of beading Each and every bead is individually positioned with laser accuracy which gives the garment a superior 4-way stretch making it perfect for swim and dance wear, also suitable for see-through fabric by eliminating the unsightly thread showing through or the dangling beads. Our beads are also 70 % lighter which makes it perfect for wearability comfort and shipping along with hand washability and the ability of using different bead sizes ranging from 2mm to any size or unconventional shapes, a breakthrough that surpass designers' wildest dreams, offering them infinite creative possibilities for crafting out-of-this-world designs. Take a look at just how different we really are from traditional beading!

 

Our process is extremely simple and fast, we work on your cut pieces and give you the exact seam allowance indicated on the sloper, now combine that with computerized placement and machine application and you are guaranteed to have an amazing USA-beaded garment that surpass all the competition in quality, uniqueness, price and ethical work practice. Find out more on how simple our beading process actually is!

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We collaborate closely with our customers to provide them with a stunning aesthetic and exceptional quality within their budget constraints , and to make things smoother in many cases we seamlessly arrange  the logistics  , For instance, in productions of 300 pieces or more, the cost of beading for our featured tops is comparable to that of a cup of coffee. We've embellished tens of millions of garments, and our commitment to excellence remains unwavering.

 

 With steadfast dedication to quality, speed, affordability , design , uniqueness and precision, Faraj Beading not only competes on the global stage but leads, our clients in USA and Canada deliver superior made-in-USA beaded products to all major department stores, home shopping network and  beyond. 

 

However, every success is the result of a collaborative endeavor, fueled by the dedication of my team, including many family members. This commitment is exemplified by my son Rommy, who represents the fourth generation of our legacy.

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Looking ahead, we are filled with optimism about the significance of products made in the USA. We foresee a future where Faraj Beading remains at the forefront of setting the benchmark for excellence in fabric embellishment through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches.

 

 Our journey stands as a testament to the enduring power of tradition, innovation, pride and  the relentless pursuit of excellence in what we do. 

 

Zackary Faraj

Faraj inc./Faraj Beading