Just for fun
Funky jewellery, which does not adhere to the conservative design, and which can be worn with any attire and for any occasion, is in demand today, says Surekha Kadapa-Bose

Times have changed. So have fashion trends. Currently, more than the clothes, accessories have gained importance. Footwear, bags and jewellery have taken centrestage. But it is also true that many women prefer to go without any jewellery.

"Many women don’t wear jewellery because they don’t get anything that appeals to them,’’ said Mumbai-based jewellery designer Bina Goenka.

Wife of the industrialist Pramod Goenka of Dynamix Group of Companies, she explained that women inherit jewellery but the present-day women aren’t able to identify with those jewellery pieces even if they are in the form of large solitaires, big finger rocks, or neck pieces made of layers of rich precious stones.

"It is not me!" they say of the jewellery passed on to them by mothers, mothers-in-law or grandmothers. It is for this group that the present-day designers are catering to.

Funky or fun jewellery items, which don’t adhere to the conservative design or material, and which can be worn with any attire and for any occasion are in demand today. In fact, high-end or pricey funky jewellery has become so popular that you find it occupying the pride of place in the showrooms of several domestic and international jewellery designers. Every power woman prefers to wear this jewellery.

Designers all over the world, including big brands, are coming out with this kind of jewellery, where rich jewels are matched with semi-precious items like corals, wood, ceramic, multi-coloured stones, different gemstones or even exotic leather. For smaller purses, rich jewels or precious metals are bypassed.

Mira Gulati of Mirari brand from Delhi says: "A couple of years ago, we had designed jewellery using galuchat, an exotic leather from sting ray, a type of cartilaginous fish related to shark, embellished with precious stones and metals. These were priced between Rs 15,000 and Rs 1,00,000 and had become very popular."

Similarly, Biren Vaidya, M.D. and design head of Mumbai-based Rose group, was inspired to make pieces using Murano glass after a visit to the Ventian island of Murano of Italy. Studded with diamonds and precious metal, the Murano glass had never looked more beautiful.

Slightly lighter on the purse is the jewellery collection from the brand Bracialeto, or from younger designers like Mumbai-based Nishita Merchant, or Delhi-based Amrita Hans. Manisha Mehta, business head, Bracialeto, a range of international jewellery having products of charms and Murano glass beads, says: "Fun jewellery is a product of aspirational value. Those persons who are conscious of the kind of accessories they wear and want to make a statement can definitely experiment with such accessories, as these can be worn by everybody, be it a student or a socialite."

Till the beginning of this century, for lack of choice for daytime wear, women had to do with simple jewellery in gold chains, bangles and earrings. On special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, festivals, the same yellow metal was used in abundance.

Today things have changed. Present-day women aren’t interested in only yellow metal or conservative temple-style jewellery. As Goenka says, when women can get other designs, they have become daring enough to experiment with their accessories.

Designer Nishita opines that as women are exposed to international fashion due to their travel abroad or through different media avenues, they have become aware of the trends in current fashion."Women want to have an international appearance. They want to match the universal trends. So they opt for jewellery which can be worn on trouser-shirts, jeans and day-time dresses," explains Nishita, who specialises in luxury crossover jewellery made from semi-precious stones.

Actors of the current crop of Hindi films flaunt these jewellery pieces. Vidya Balan, Sushmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, Gul Panag, Kirron Kher, Sonali Bendre, Farah Khan, or business heads like Kiran Majumdar Shaw, Malini Ramani and other socialites are always seen in jewellery, which doesn’t have the usual run-of-the-mill designs.`A0These aren’t flashy but are quietly noticeable neckpieces, cuffs and earrings, which exude elegance.`A0

Amrita Hans of Delhi, who, too, specialises in contemporary semi-precious jewellery and accessories, enjoys using various elements with different textures in designs like polished silver (sometimes plated), soft silks, wood, leather, shells etc.