In the enchanting world of jewellery, where craftsmanship meets contemporary elegance, Shaya by CaratLane stands as a beacon of refined beauty. In our exclusive tête-à-tête with Mimi Hrahsel, the Business Head of Shaya by CaratLane, we delve into the heart of this distinguished jewellery brand.
Join us as we uncover the fascinating journey of Shaya, explore the intricate fusion of bridal styles it encapsulates, revel in the tapestry of Indian heritage woven into each piece, and unveil the latest trends that define this masterpiece of a jewellery collection.
How does Shaya By CaratLane stay ahead in identifying and incorporating current jewellery trends into its collections?
Shaya is a culmination of our conversations with hundreds of jewellery-loving women across India, many of whom were into silver jewellery but couldn’t always find what they loved.
What sets us apart is our commitment to infusing a touch of delicacy into even the most intricate designs, making art wearable and personal. Each collection at Shaya is inspired by themes and attributes that are close to the hearts of women. Currently, our catalogue boasts over 1200 exquisite silver designs, many of which have remained perennial favourites since our inception.
Every piece we craft, using the finest 925 silver, is meticulously designed to not only enhance your beauty but also become an authentic part of your narrative.
Every hero design that we put out goes through a wearability test and is tried and tested by at least 20 women of all shapes and sizes before they are considered market-ready.
What is the creative process behind designing pieces that resonate with the lifestyle and preferences of modern consumers?
Our design team goes through a thorough research process of identifying trends and creating collections that best resonate with our customers.
We also conduct surveys and FGDs to understand consumer preferences and the kind of designs they have liked and purchased in the past.
Shaya exists to fulfil the cravings of women looking for differentiated silver jewellery. Our customers look forward to thoughtful stories and freshness from us, and that’s what keeps them coming back. It is our goal to offer every single one of them something new that they love at least 4 times a year. During the festive season, we enhance this goal further with the aim that at least one of our new collections makes it to their festive fit.
How do you bring the diversity factor of Indian heritage into your collections?
Indian culture and heritage play a significant role in the collections we design.
Our key collections are inspired by temples, palaces and rich Indian heritage that take us back to that era but we offer them with a modern touch.
For instance, Our Shaadi Squad collection draws inspiration from the Mughal buta which is an arrangement of stylised intertwined flowers and leaves as seen on palace walls, paintings and textiles. We primarily drew from the marble inlay work found on the walls of palaces, usually decorated with colourful painting and gemstones.
Our Kolkata collection takes inspiration from the city of Kolkata, its roots and the ever inspiring art of the Kalighat Paintings.. Originated in the Kalighat area of Kolkata, these paintings are known for their simplicity, bold lines, vibrant colors, and thematic diversity.This collection is a collab of artists across mediums. Artists at the core, the vision of the designers and the deft hands of the karigars together make an attempt to recreate this legendary work of the painters of Kalighat.
Our dual plated collection, “The Legacy of Rani Lokmahadevi” pays homage to Rani Lokmaha Devi, the Chalukyan queen behind (the lesser known) Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal. She built the temple to commemorate her husband’s third victory against the Pallavas. The Virupaksha was one of the few mediaeval shrines which have been commissioned by a queen.
Could you share insights into the innovative elements and unique inspirations behind the Shaadi Collection, and how it aims to capture the essence of wedding celebrations?
For your day occasions, opting for floral and pastels with hints of pink could be a good option. Our Shaadi Squad collection follows this colour palette and motifs from the Mughal Buta art work. The theme is florals, pearls and a whole load of pink. The motifs and forms are directly adapted from popular Mughal Buta art work. We’ve tried to recreate the intricate detailing that’s synonymous with this craft through an interplay of golden jaalis, pink enamel and rose cut stones balanced by speckles of green stones. We’ve used MOP finish on the enamel to give it a pearly sheen.
Wedding jewellery often holds significant cultural and emotional symbolism. Can you elaborate on how you incorporate meaningful symbols or motifs in its wedding jewellery designs?
Every Shaya edit has a unique inspiration or a unique take on an existing collection. While this is our third wedding range, it is the first time we have taken the Mughal Buta art as an inspiration. And the forms, the styling and colour palette, they are very new.
We’ve also seen tone on tone as a big trend, and pink continues to be a favourite hue for day pheras. The highlight of this collection is the playful mix of light pink enamel and pink rose cut stones against the golden backdrop.
Since floral and pastels are in trend for the wedding season, The motifs and forms from the Shaadi Squad collection are directly adapted from popular Mughal Buta art work. We’ve tried to recreate the intricate detailing that’s synonymous with this craft through an interplay of golden jaalis, pink enamel and rose cut stones balanced by speckles of green stones. We’ve used MOP finish on the enamel to give it a pearly sheen.
What should brides expect from Shaya By Caratlane in the coming times?
We have seen that brides today are looking for jewellery that they can wear again, not just at their wedding or similar occasions. Shaadi Squad is a good mix of modern and traditional designs, and brides can choose to wear the jewellery whenever they want.
A lot of pieces from the collection are also quite practical. For example, the Nakhrewali Aunty Bracelet can be worn as a traditional haath phool, with a fun twist- you can detach a part of it and wear it as a bracelet by itself.
We’ve also seen tone on tone as a big trend, and pink continues to be a favourite hue especially with summer weddings. The highlight of this collection is the playful mix of light pink enamel and pink rose cut stones against the golden backdrop.
We will continue to bring designs and collections that not only meet trends but also suit the occasion and emotion people are looking for. After all we are in the business of selling art
Here’s to a future adorned with the timeless beauty of Shaya, where each piece tells a story of love, culture, and enduring craftsmanship.
