The Traditional Art of Name Bangles in Hyderabad, Pakistan

My name is Abdul Waheed, and I have been working in this craft since 1968. The art of writing names on bangles is a unique skill that today exists only in Pakistan, particularly in the city of Hyderabad.The history of this craft originally began in Firozabad, India, which is famous for glass bangles.

One of our teachers, Ustad Abdul Hameed, created a special technique using a single wire mold to design bangles and added decorative curved patterns known as morai designs. After the creation of Pakistan, our families migrated here and continued this traditional work.

Over time, the nature of the craft has evolved. Today, we use different colors and all bangles are made from glass. The process involves heating the bangles in fire; once heated, the material softens and allows us to attach decorative elements and carefully shape the design. As we rotate the bangle during heating, the letters are formed naturally, creating personalized name bangles.We mainly write names in English, but we have also produced sets in Urdu and Hindi.

Throughout the years, we have created special collections for famous personalities, including Madam Noor Jehan and Benazir Bhutto, as well as customized sets for members of royal families from Japan. Many tourists from different countries visit us and request names in various languages, which we usually write using English lettering.A standard set contains two dozen bangles, and it typically takes around two hours to complete.

While the process can be done faster with practice, maintaining beauty, durability, and high quality requires careful craftsmanship and patience.According to demand and experience, this art survives only in Hyderabad. Attempts were made to establish this craft in cities like Lahore and Karachi, but due to differences in climate or availability of materials, the work could not achieve the same success there.Today, this craft represents not only handmade artistry but also a living cultural heritage passed down through generations.