A family of cloth traders, four generations deep
We opened our first store in Delhi in 1943 and have dealt in cloth ever since: menswear and school uniforms first, then furnishing fabrics, and for nearly thirty years complete turnkey interiors for homes, hotels and government houses.
Textile traders of the Multan belt
The family story goes back about a thousand years, to the Bery tribe of the Multan and Sindh region. They were already traders in cloth, moving from town to town with their goods. On one of those journeys, in Multan, they met the saint Hazrat Shah Shams and accepted Islam. They could not go home after that, so they settled in Delhi, where their descendants are still known as the Punjabi Saudagaran of Delhi.
When the family accepted Islam, Hazrat Shah Shams prayed for them and for every generation to come. He asked for three things, and all three came true.
That the family, always travelling through the jungle with their cloth, would be kept safe from snakes and other poisonous animals. They were, without a single incident.
That the family's trade in cloth would prosper. It did, and many of the textile families of Karachi and Lahore come from this line.
That the family would always have those who know the Quran by heart. Today there are many, from grandparents to grandchildren.
A store opening and a flag sewn overnight
Our first recorded branch opened in Chandni Chowk in 1943, run by Jamil Barry's grandfather and his cousin. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Madar-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah came to open it, even though Partition was close and he was already unwell.
The night before, the two cousins sat up and sewed a flag by hand: green cloth with a white crescent and star. They gave it to him at the ceremony, and it was held up behind him. As far as the family knows, it was the first fabric flag of the Pakistan that was coming.
A letter for the opening of the shop
Ahead of the opening, Quaid-e-Azam wrote to Muhammad Idrees Barry. The letter and a photograph from the day have stayed with the family for more than eighty years.
“It gives me great pleasure to know from your Mr. Habibur Rahman that you are opening out a new Retail Shop dealing in piece goods and cloth and I hardly say that it will fulfill a great need.I have also impressed upon the Musalmans the need of a unified national effort for the economic uplift of our people and if people like you come forward, I am sure success can be achieved very soon.”
Inside the shop
Scenes from the 1943 visit, reconstructed from the original photograph. Paisley and woven piece goods were the shop's trade, and remain part of ours.
“When you make a house you spend so much money. It has to look different. It cannot be the same as everybody's house. That is where professional people come in.”
From Delhi to Fortress Stadium
The first branch opens, selling menswear. Quaid-e-Azam and Madar-e-Millat open the store.
The family moves to Lahore before Partition and opens a shop near Urdu Bazaar, living above it. The area is still called Barry Market.
Jamil Barry's grandfather opens his own shop among the city's toy sellers. Jamil's father, still a college student, works there between classes.
Menswear and school uniforms, including the red winter coats for Convent of Jesus & Mary.
Jamil's father sets up handlooms, and starts moving into home furnishing as Lahore builds new houses.
A flood, then a fire destroys the shop. It is rebuilt as a furnishing fabric house only.
We buy our first shop at Fortress. Jamil joins full-time in 1994, after starting at 17 while still in college.
Fabrics, furniture and décor from Turkey, Thailand, China and Indonesia. We become distributors for Warwick Fabrics of Australia.
About 70% of our sales are fabrics we design, weave and print ourselves, plus our own wallpapers, murals and handloom linens.
We prefer to stay out of sight. The rooms speak for us.
Furniture, fabrics, wallpapers, ceilings and woodwork, often on very short deadlines.
Complete interiors and most of the furnishings, more than once.
Turnkey interiors designed with Nayyar Ali Dada: mahogany doors, wardrobes and all the furniture. One of Jamil's favourite projects.
Fabrics designed specially for guest rooms, public areas, restaurants and outdoor seating.
For the last three to four years we have designed and supplied the commercial-grade fabrics for every Prestige lounge.
What we believe
We would rather do the research and development than just import and resell. Most of what we sell is now designed and made in Pakistan.
Fire-rated, high-rub fabrics may cost more at first, but they last. Reupholstering three times costs you about three times as much.
Pinterest can give you ideas. Bring your ideas to us and we will tell you what works, what is current and what fits your budget.