"For me, inspiration begins with a strong emotion. You have to 'feel' to be inspired."
India International Jewellery Week 2014 (IIJW) celebrates India’s love for splendid and opulent jewellery, once worn by the Maharajas and the Maharanis. The three-day event will showcase collections of the most prominent craftsmen, starting on July 14 in Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.
The tremendous success of the first IIJW in 2010 has turned the event into a landmark in Indian jewellery tradition.
Bollywood icons such as Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Konkana Sen Sharma and Sonakshi Sinha walked the ramp for their favourite craftsmen, looking as glamorous as the jewellery they presented.
The front row was filled with editors of luxury magazines such as Verve, OK, Kingfisher, Marie Claire and Harpers Bazaar.
It is difficult to imagine how this year will outshine its precedent, yet this is what the organisers aim for. With the elegant venue and the exquisite selection of high-profile jewellers, the event promises to leave a mark in the history of Indian design.
Day 1
The fashion extravaganza kicks off at noon with the collection of Gitanjali Gems. The designer group is known for pioneering in traditional craftsmanship having started their first label “Gili” back in 1994.
By now they have launched several lines that celebrate the diverse faces of the Indian woman, as each line symbolises a different stage of her life. Gili offers dazzling pieces for her youth, Asmi exudes confidence and determination as she rises as a professional, the bridal jewellery Parineeta adorns during her most special day and Nizam offers splendid designs and royal grandeur during her mature age.
The day also showcases the collections of Surya Golds, Moni Agarwal, Jewels by Preety, IIGJ Mumbai, Shobha Shringar and Laksh Pahuja.
Farah Khan is a renowned designer, who graduated from the University of Santa Monica in California. Ever since, she has allured her clientèle with spectacular pieces, dedicated to the beauty and determination of the contemporary woman.
Farah explains: “For me, inspiration begins with a strong emotion. You have to ‘feel’ to be inspired. I design pieces that tell a story.”
The day closes with Apala. The name translates as ‘the most beautiful’ in Sanskrit and it describes how women feel while wearing Apala designs. The label celebrates the creativity of the craftsmen presented in truly unique pieces.
Day 2
The day opens with Aks Jewels. The brand’s signature designer Alka Kumar believes in combining traditional design with modern techniques to present jewellery that transcends into art. She uses real gem stones such as emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, white corals, amethysts and rubies to create timeless pieces.
Her collection is followed by Dipti Amisha, PP Jewellers, Ganjam, PN Gadjil Jewellers.
Swarovski is one of the brands that requires no introduction. Ever since Daniel Swarovski pioneered in jewellery-making back in 1965, his creations have enjoyed a constant success among the customers.
The brand will present Gem Visions- a bridal collection, which consists of unique pieces, made of sapphire, topaz, rhodolite, peridot, amethyst, citrine, black spinel, marcasite, zirconia and synthetic stones. All of the designs complement the label’s philosophy of unconditional creativity and perfect execution.
Another designer to present that day is Ganjam. The label has a long tradition of creating opulent jewellery, as if worn by the old Indian aristocracy. Today, their unique designs adorn the the royal family of Mysore to the royal family of Nepal, as well as many men and women who strive for a touch of the glamour of the past.
The day closes with Gintanjali Gems.
Day 3
The final day opens with Derewala Jewellery. The label combines Eastern opulence with Western technology to create elegant designs. Their line is called Astitava, which means ‘existence’ and is inspired by Indian architecture from the city of Jaipur and other regions of the country.
Another label to present on Day 3 is The House of Emerald. The brand has a long tradition of creating intricate jewellery, combining old glamour with innovation.
The label will present the latest collection of the diamond line Athena. The designs are inspired by floral, nature, geometric, lattice patterns in Mughal architecture to celebrate boldness, beauty and femininity.
The day also features the presentations of J Jaipur, Sun Jewels, Saboo Fine Jewels, Mahabir and KIK Jewels, Golesha Jewels, Nazraana by Rio Tinta.
The grand finale will showcase the Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers collection. The design philosophy of the label is rooted in its regard to family values, as the brand is bestowed from one generation to the next.
The brand allures the customers with five exquisite lines; Hunar, Noor, Adrishya, Aranya and Amér, inspired by the rich architecture of the city of Rajasthan.
This year, India International Jewellery Week promises to pay spectacular homage to India’s veneration of fine craftsmanship. The event will allure the public with dramatic pieces, reminiscent of the glamour of old times worn by Maharajas and Maharanis.
India International Jewellery will showcase its stunning collections between July 14 and 17 at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.
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