The story behind Janet’s rose brand

JANET Anana, 60, from Namatanai in New Island is one of 45 participants in a 13-day Fashion and Design Festival workshop at the the Ligga United Church in Kavieng.
Janet’s textile design is a red rose – to signify her love for her late husband James, who was killed when armed men robbed a shop he had been managing 16 years ago.
“We met in 1980. I was a student at the Kerevat National High School and his cousin was going out with my best friend. One day, we met, and the rest is history.
“After I completed school in 1982, we got married and moved in together. We led a wonderful life together.”
They have three sons and three daughters.
She cannot forget how her husband was shot in 2004.
“The shop we were managing at the time was held up by a group of men. He tried to fight them back but was shot. He passed away on the way to the hospital. I don’t know if the perpetrators had been caught since.”
Janet’s world was shattered, the love of her life gone just like that.
“I had six kids to raise. So I just shut everything out and concentrated on working and raising them.
“But before that, we always joked that if one of us died before the other, the living one would always put a red rose on the deceased one’s grave. It turned out that he died before me. So every year since, I’ve always placed a rose on his grave.
“So, when I was told to draw something that signified a special person, thing or event in my life, I chose the rose.
“I chose him back in the 80s. My daughter Lenita, who is the reason why I came to this workshop, is a result of that love. And it is for that love that I want to support and see our children prosper. The rose is my love, my life, my story.”
Janet, whose daughter Lenita is also a participant at the 13-day workshop in Kokopo, decided to participate in the workshop because she wanted to know and support what her daughter was doing.
“In 2019, after hearing that the workshop would be held in Kokopo, I took a boat to Kokopo from Namatanai just to attend it.”
Lenita has her own brand – Dahana Haus Bilas.
“As her mother, I want to be able to help her and support her.”
Janet and granddaughter Leilani, 12, both decided to sign up for the workshop “so that I could help my daughter and she could help her mother”.
“We are so grateful to be a part of this workshop. I want to acknowledge and thank Mrs Janet Sios and the PNG Fashion and Design Week, the provincial government and the Australian government for supporting this project through the PNG-Australia partnership programme.
“It’s an amazing experience, and an opportunity for New Irelanders.”
The story of her rose brand too had a chance to be told to the public. Now everyone knows why Janet chose it as her brand.

– Story and picture supplied by REBECCA KUKU