A trinket a day

The Delhi Art Gallery stood proud in Mumbai's Kala Ghoda in a three-story all-white curyear, all eyes were on the golden space, wondering who its next resident would be. Probably because of sky-high rentals, the new tenant was not a flashy fashion label peddling destination wedding-wear, like so many in the neighbourhood, but a young jewellery brand that introduced to India a new design language.

- NAMRATA ZAKARIA

This is Her Story, a new fine jewellery label unlike any we have seen in India. Debunking traditional designs, this jewellery seemed as if it was designed by a French fashion house. Tiny baubles in precious stones, in shapes of elephants and butterflies. It was expensive jewellery, but with an element of whimsy, and one that a woman could wear every day.

Jewellery and India go hand-in-hand, perhaps even more than its textiles. Indian adornments date back 5,000 years to the Indus Valley. India remains the highest producer of gemstones. Even the humblest of homes in India will have gold or silver adornments. Jewellery contributes to 7 per cent of our GDP and almost 16 per cent of our exports.