Harvard Square may be famous for its ice cream parlors and street musicians, but the founders of one new business are hoping that it will soon be known for innovation in another field--that of beadworking.
"Beadworks," located at 23 Church St., features more than 3000 different kinds of beads from over 25 countries of the world. The store, which bills itself as a "new shopping concept," also sells clasps, wires, earrings, chains, leather and satin cords and even books on how to string it all together.
Customers are encouraged to "browse through at leisure," selecting beads and experimenting with combinations for as long as they like, according to store owner Jessica Hunt.
The original Beadworks store is "There are other stores selling beads, but theycan't rival our vast selection, or our unique wayof displaying the beads," she said. Though the concept of the bead is an ancientone, Beadworks seems to have no trouble sellingthe idea to today's consumer; the shop is alreadybustling. "No matter what the fashion is, there is alwaysa way of incorporating beads in it," Hunt said."Beads are therefore a trend and not a fad." Certain Items Popular Currently very popular is the leather cord within African trading bead on it, she said. Also ingreat demand are amber products. Chanel-typenecklaces with big pearls and beaded clothing. The store's buyer travels to countries asdiverse as India, Indonesia, Czechoslovakia, thePhillipines and China, as well as to a number ofAfrican nations. The buyer's finds--whose pricesstart at around 50 cents--are made of glass,porcelain, gold, silver, wood, plastic andsemi-precious stones in every imaginable shade andcolor. The Beadworks staff are eager to teach peopleabout the beads, Hunt said. In fact, the storehopes to start classes on earring construction,knotting beads and "loomwork," or beaded earrings,by mid-October.
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