A place so dream-like that the air smelled sweet, the colors were more vibrant than you could imagine, and just being there stirred deep motivation and inspiration within you? I felt this way once.
I was on the Amalfi Coast, where a cool breeze swept lightly through my hair, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I belonged there. I belonged where the brilliantly turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea meet rugged cliffs, where narrow streets and terraced gardens flourish, and where the scent of the sea, lemon groves, freshly baked bread, and jasmine flood the senses.
As I wandered through the bylanes, I came across a small boutique. Unsure if I should enter, I hesitated. But then, an elderly man with deep wrinkles and even deeper-set eyes stood at the entrance and smiled. His smile was so warm that I stepped inside almost without realizing it.
Inside the boutique, I felt enveloped by a sense of love and care evident in every detail. The walls were adorned with Italian plates in blue and gold, each a work of art that captivated me. As I studied them, a sudden and striking realization hit me—these designs bore a remarkable similarity to my own artwork, which had been inspired by the palaces of Jaipur.
I had struggled to balance traditional and modern aesthetics in my design process, but the synchronicity of this discovery felt like a sign from the universe. Overwhelmed by this realization, I left the boutique in a hurry, barely noticing the elderly man’s surprised look. I didn’t stop until I reached my hotel, where I sat at my desk, closed my eyes, and envisioned a fusion of the boutique’s charm with the grandeur of Jaipur’s palaces. I opened my eyes and began sketching.
Hours later, I looked down at my sketches and saw four distinct designs that merged these two inspirations. I could see the potential for exquisite
jewelry pieces that would bring joy to those who wore or gifted them. This realization filled me with excitement and drove me to discuss these designs with my dear friend and partner, one of our designers, and our skilled jewelry maker.
We decided to create these pieces using enamel with the cloisonné technique, chosen for its historical significance in both India and Italy. However, the journey was not without its challenges. We discovered that not every design was suitable for enamel-based sterling silver due to its lower melting point compared to gold. This led us to refine our designs and collaborate with artisans skilled in crafting sterling silver-based enamel jewelry.
They say, “Life is a journey, filled with learning experiences at every turn.” Our journey began with inspiration and evolved into enamel-based jewelry-making. It’s a journey that mirrors this quote—one of continuous learning and progress, ever in motion