Minnie Menon’s collection of semi-precious jewellery is like a dream which you can have a peek of when she showcases it in the city on August 27 and 28. The collection comprising135 designs - necklaces, ear rings, cocktail rings, men’s cuff links, and pendants will be on on view at Collage, Wood Street.
The collection, explains Minnie, is “inspired by the colours of the rainbow, got off the drawing board with iridescent semi precious stones and has travelled to Bengaluru.”
Passionate about jewellery, Minnie says jewellery is something that should make you feel and look good. “I believe in investing in designs that can be worn by women than bank lockers,” adds Minnie, who after a successful career in advertising, found she could not get over her addiction to designing jewellery. “It was beads and semi-precious stones that would trigger off the creativity in me. I found myself picking up every kind of bead and stone during my travel,” recalls Minnie, who adds she is inspired by the colours of the stones, their texture and women. Soon, the young designer turned her passion into a profession and quit her advertising career and launched her brand – Minnie Menon (MM) in 2013. She started off with eight designs a year and does not believe in retail. “China, with all due respects, has spoilt our market for everything. Mine is a niche product that will appeal to women of all ages. There are three categories of jewellery – precious, semi-precious and fashion. While the first section is conventional and very expensive, the last one is retail and there is no individual style to it. Whereas semi-precious stones which I am into, one has to be a believer in it to buy it. My designs are such that it can be worn by women to a party or a wedding. It is an acquired taste,” she states.
The challenge she sometimes faced is when someone is goaded to buy gold instead of semi-precious ones. “It is sometimes hard to get people to understand that these are jewellery too. It is good to have the real thing which can be worn for special occasions. But there is a whole new world out there. I can give you the same effect as the diamonds using sapphire. So, why are there some who are missing out on colour, design and textures of stones? With semi-precious stones you can make yourself look dramatic or sober by just choosing the kind of textures, colours and stones,” she adds.
Though she uses technology to popularise her collection and reach out to people, Minnie refuses to sell them on the web. “Jewellery is something that you have to see, feel, wear and then buy.”
About her foray into the IT city, Minnie feels “excited as every city has a different style quotient and I am confident my design aesthetic will appeal to women here.”
She sells her designs at Mehta Jewellery in Chennai too. For details contact Collage on 2556 6818 or log on to Info@mehtajewellery.com.
