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‘The Hybrids’ First handmade dreamcatcher business in Jordan
By Haya Najdawi, Jordan News
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AMMAN — Sarah Abdallat started her business “The Hybrids” from her house at just 16 years old. With the support of her older sister and two of her cousins as her partners, Abdallat started the first handmade dreamcatcher business in Jordan. اضافة اعلان
Sarah Abdallat the founder of ‘The Hybrids. (Photos: Handout from Sarah Abdallat)
A dreamcatcher is a handmade willow hoop or ring which a web or a net is woven into. Dreamcatchers are versatile in style and can have colorful feathers, beads, gemstones woven into the strings. Silver names and other materials like fairy lights, fabrics, and ribbons can also decorate the dreamcatcher.
Dreamcatchers originate from Native America culture and are used to represent protection from bad energy and dreams. Some Native American tribes believe that when dreamcatchers are hung above their beds or the beds of their loved ones, the nets inside of the dreamcatchers will filter out bad dreams.
Dreamcatchers were viewed as a symbol of protection and armor for some Native American tribes. However, nowadays, many people buy them for decorating purposes.
Handmade dreamcatchers from ‘The Hybrids.’ (Photos: Handout from Sarah Abdallat)
The idea to start The Hybrids came to Abdallat in 2015, “I really wanted a dreamcatcher to myself, I always saw them on Tumblr and Pinterest, I couldn’t find a place to sell them here. Back then, it was not that easy to order one online, so I decided to learn how to make them. The materials I used to make that dreamcatcher were very poor,” she said in an interview with Jordan News.
“When my friends saw it, they asked me to make dreamcatchers for them as well. I found out a lot of people were just like me; they wanted one and couldn’t find a place to sell them. I think that’s how the business kicked off,” she added.
Abdallat shared that the name of the business “The Hybrids” came to be when she first started, and it was because there were several partners, and they all had different nationalities. “The name doesn’t make sense now because I work on my own,” she said.
Personally, Abdallat prefers modern styles, and even though dreamcatchers are usually associated with a hippie or bohemian style, Abdallat still ensured to give her dreamcatchers a modern twist.
“Until now when you look for dreamcatchers, they always fit a hipster style more, what I did to make mine special is I made them more modern; I started including modern styles into the designs, I make them simple and minimalistic, nothing over the top,” she said.
Beyond style, Abdallat also ensured that she was always up to date with modern color pallets such as pastel colors, which she uses for her dreamcatchers. “This is so people can put them in their modern cars or houses,” she explained.
Handmade dreamcatchers from ‘The Hybrids.’ (Photos: Handout from Sarah Abdallat)
Regarding materials, much like her designs and colors, Abdallat shared that she upgrades her materials regularly. “Whenever I find better materials, I immediately switch to them, and I get them from many different places and suppliers as well,” she said.
Abdallat also talked about the hardships she faced when it came to the customization of the dreamcatchers, especially after the COVID-19 restrictions.
“Before the pandemic hit, I always offered to customize anything the customer wanted. They could choose any material they wanted with whatever colors, but now I kind of have obstacles. I can’t get the material immediately, it takes a long time for them to get here, so I do not have the same freedom I previously had,” she explained.
“What I can do now, however, is to offer whatever options I already have available in the stock at my workshop, and they can choose from them; I also use silver names with the dreamcatchers, and this is always available to customize,” she added.
Abdallat shared that there are various sizes for the dreamcatchers, from keychains to ones for your bedroom, and they all come with different customizations, which causes a change in price depending on the piece.
“If the dreamcatcher, for example, has a gemstone in it, or a silver name, it depends on the material used more than the sizes, and I usually try to attach the prices with the photos on our Instagram page,” Abdallat explained.
Over the years, Abdallat has interacted with many customers and said she feels “Blessed with the nicest customers.”
“Whether it was online or from when I used to have small booths at bazaars and events so I can create a name for my business, all the customers who showed up were very pleasant, super smiley, and very sweet,” she said.
The business owner says that “The Hybrids” was worth all the investment, time, and effort she put in it; this one is always dear to her heart despite having other businesses.
“This was my first business, its successes are the biggest motivation for me to do more, even though it was very risky at first, but I have come to learn over the years that hard work actually pays off, and I am very attached to it, it is my passion” she explained.
Read more Culture and Arts
Sarah Abdallat the founder of ‘The Hybrids. (Photos: Handout from Sarah Abdallat)
A dreamcatcher is a handmade willow hoop or ring which a web or a net is woven into. Dreamcatchers are versatile in style and can have colorful feathers, beads, gemstones woven into the strings. Silver names and other materials like fairy lights, fabrics, and ribbons can also decorate the dreamcatcher.
Dreamcatchers originate from Native America culture and are used to represent protection from bad energy and dreams. Some Native American tribes believe that when dreamcatchers are hung above their beds or the beds of their loved ones, the nets inside of the dreamcatchers will filter out bad dreams.
Dreamcatchers were viewed as a symbol of protection and armor for some Native American tribes. However, nowadays, many people buy them for decorating purposes.
Handmade dreamcatchers from ‘The Hybrids.’ (Photos: Handout from Sarah Abdallat)
The idea to start The Hybrids came to Abdallat in 2015, “I really wanted a dreamcatcher to myself, I always saw them on Tumblr and Pinterest, I couldn’t find a place to sell them here. Back then, it was not that easy to order one online, so I decided to learn how to make them. The materials I used to make that dreamcatcher were very poor,” she said in an interview with Jordan News.
“When my friends saw it, they asked me to make dreamcatchers for them as well. I found out a lot of people were just like me; they wanted one and couldn’t find a place to sell them. I think that’s how the business kicked off,” she added.
Abdallat shared that the name of the business “The Hybrids” came to be when she first started, and it was because there were several partners, and they all had different nationalities. “The name doesn’t make sense now because I work on my own,” she said.
Personally, Abdallat prefers modern styles, and even though dreamcatchers are usually associated with a hippie or bohemian style, Abdallat still ensured to give her dreamcatchers a modern twist.
“Until now when you look for dreamcatchers, they always fit a hipster style more, what I did to make mine special is I made them more modern; I started including modern styles into the designs, I make them simple and minimalistic, nothing over the top,” she said.
Beyond style, Abdallat also ensured that she was always up to date with modern color pallets such as pastel colors, which she uses for her dreamcatchers. “This is so people can put them in their modern cars or houses,” she explained.
Handmade dreamcatchers from ‘The Hybrids.’ (Photos: Handout from Sarah Abdallat)
Regarding materials, much like her designs and colors, Abdallat shared that she upgrades her materials regularly. “Whenever I find better materials, I immediately switch to them, and I get them from many different places and suppliers as well,” she said.
Abdallat also talked about the hardships she faced when it came to the customization of the dreamcatchers, especially after the COVID-19 restrictions.
“Before the pandemic hit, I always offered to customize anything the customer wanted. They could choose any material they wanted with whatever colors, but now I kind of have obstacles. I can’t get the material immediately, it takes a long time for them to get here, so I do not have the same freedom I previously had,” she explained.
“What I can do now, however, is to offer whatever options I already have available in the stock at my workshop, and they can choose from them; I also use silver names with the dreamcatchers, and this is always available to customize,” she added.
Abdallat shared that there are various sizes for the dreamcatchers, from keychains to ones for your bedroom, and they all come with different customizations, which causes a change in price depending on the piece.
“If the dreamcatcher, for example, has a gemstone in it, or a silver name, it depends on the material used more than the sizes, and I usually try to attach the prices with the photos on our Instagram page,” Abdallat explained.
Over the years, Abdallat has interacted with many customers and said she feels “Blessed with the nicest customers.”
“Whether it was online or from when I used to have small booths at bazaars and events so I can create a name for my business, all the customers who showed up were very pleasant, super smiley, and very sweet,” she said.
The business owner says that “The Hybrids” was worth all the investment, time, and effort she put in it; this one is always dear to her heart despite having other businesses.
“This was my first business, its successes are the biggest motivation for me to do more, even though it was very risky at first, but I have come to learn over the years that hard work actually pays off, and I am very attached to it, it is my passion” she explained.
Read more Culture and Arts
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