Accessory Whizz: Aavriti Jain of Dhora On The Delicate Artistry Of Her Jewellery | Verve Magazine
India's premier luxury lifestyle women's magazine
Verve People
September 18, 2017

Accessory Whizz: Aavriti Jain of Dhora On The Delicate Artistry Of Her Jewellery

Text by Sharmi Ghosh Dastidar. Photographs by Rishabh Malik

“Young brides want to play with their looks. Our designs are more experimental, yet the craftsmanship is brilliant”

There’s something about the arid beauty of Rajasthan that unfailingly triggers one’s creative faculty. The architectural flamboyance of old forts, havelis and palaces; the riot of colour in the clothes donned by the women and the parched, yet vibrant, landscape nudges an exploration of new avenues of art on an everyday basis. One such inspired soul is Aavriti Jain, of Dhora, whose formative years in Jaipur honed her ability to single out the allure in this barrenness — as did the endless hours she spent at the jewellery workshop of her father, a man whose design aesthetics she has inherited.

The jewellery designer says, “As a city, Jaipur is a labyrinth with a myriad facets. While its art and architecture continuously stun, you will also marvel at the deft craft of the local artisans. With so much beauty around, inspiration runs galore. My designs evolve from tiny reflections that I may have while walking on the streets or a figure I’ve noticed. It’s only later that the thought converts into shape, but the inception is right here, in Jaipur.”

Jewellery designing wasn’t an obvious choice. After graduating in mass media from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Jain took up styling and sales jobs in two fashion and lifestyle publications. Thereafter, she moved to Milan for her post-graduation in fashion promotion and branding. But fate had other plans in store. “I wanted my jewellery designs to challenge the traditional norms of pieces made in Jaipur. They had to be interesting and dynamic. The idea of Dhora was conceived thus, and took wing during my travels between Jaipur and Milan,” recalls Jain. “Dhora, meaning sand dunes in Rajasthan, reflects the old-world charm and understated elegance of both cities.”

And thus was born the versatility of Dhora, a brand that has been regaling women with a taste for delicate artistry and skilled workmanship. “Times have changed. We have more working women in our country today and we need to circulate our jewellery as we do our clothes. A pair of precious earrings costs as much as a designer lehnga. This is where an intricately designed fashion ornament comes in. You can have many options without burning a hole in your pocket,” explains Jain.

It’s the uniqueness in design that’s making costume jewellery a top draw at weddings. Jain says, “Speak of budget-friendly weddings and fashion jewellery is the obvious choice. At destination weddings too, women are veering towards this. But, the main reason is that young brides want to play with their looks. Our designs are more experimental, yet the craftsmanship is brilliant. It’s no more about showcasing the most expensive. It’s more about making a statement that speaks volumes about your sense of style. Also, you get to carry a plethora of jewels to a destination without stressing.”

Jain has had would-be brides flocking to her for a pair of vintage brass earrings only because they were tired of the ubiquitous polki or jadau heirloom pieces thrust on them by their families. “I recommend our lotus maang tikka, lotus earrings, chaandbaalis or cow earrings for a wedding function. These are exquisite, budget-friendly picks,” elaborates Jain, whose personal taste is rather minimalistic, as demonstrated by her appreciation of works by Ariel Gordon, Suhani Parekh and Céline.

While she is all for recommending to brides, the costume bijouterie that enhances their looks and gels with their personality, she feels wearing lookalikes of precious stuff is inadvertently falling into the trap of the need-to-flaunt and a pompous mindset. “The design should be of paramount importance while making the choice.” For the upcoming wedding season, Jain is launching a series of earrings for bridesmaids. “These are apt pieces for the bride’s friends and family. At weddings, we focus so much on the main duo that the others feel left out. At Dhora, we want them to celebrate and look the part, too,” says Jain.

Next: Ikroop Dhillon On Fusing Glass Into An Array of Colours and Shapes

Related posts from Verve:


Leave a Reply

Verve Trending

Sorry. No data so far.