Asha Kamal is a jewellery designer, yet, she doesn’t sport much jewellery. “Yeah, it’s strange, but you know it is the same as being surrounded by chocolate all the time. I love creating designs and doing that I enjoy reading up the history, the times and lifestyle of people of the past era,” explains Asha.
She is in the city with her latest collection called the “Awadh Collection” — a range that is inspired by Umrao Jaan . Her aim is to “revive the traditional craft of the region” and adds that her collection is textured with pearls and every piece is “hand-crafted”. There are chokers, necklaces, earrings, chand baalis, rings, baju-bandhs, tikas, anklets, bangles to bracelets – all of which are made with semi-precious stones. There are designs with navratna (nine gems) stones and pearls. And her collection is silver based.
Asha says, “Jewellery is an art and art is for generations to treasure. And, jewellery will live as long as we dress in ethnic wear. This is something that will never go out of fashion. This particular collection is based on the times of Awad, especially during the rule of Wajid Ali Khan. There is an influence of Hinduism and Mughal culture in these designs,” explains Asha.
“My designs are authentic. As I also love costume, I design in such a way that each design can be worn with the current trends in dressing. The study is important as I will have to bring in something from the past and blend it with the current trends. That is my speciality,” beams this designer, who has also designed jewellery for Bollywood films such as Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Ram Leela.
She has customers, who want a replica of these designs, “It takes time to replicate them.”
The Awadh Collection will be showcased at Raintree, Sankey Road, till August 12, between 11 p.m. to 7 p.m. The designs are priced between Rs. 1,500 to 18,000.
