From India With Love

India Mahon creates stunning jewellery with a colourful story. Now her designs have been snapped up by a major store

Since she was a child living in Harrogate, India Mahon has been energised by multicoloured gemstones. Her passion came from her flamboyant, amateur dramatic-driven grandmother Maebelle and her father, a bohemian artist who painted in vibrant watercolours.

‘Maebelle, who probably changed her name from Mabel to sound more glamorous, was my inspiration,’ laughs India.

‘I would spend hours sifting through her eclectic mix of Indian hand-embroidered silks and sparkly theatrical costumes. I would adorn myself with my grandmother’s pearls, wander the Yorkshire Dales with my grandfather loaded with jewellery and at least one handbag!’ she recalls.

While visiting Registan in the 1980s, it was a specialist jeweller and family friend who taught India the art of jewellery making. She started by making simple silver earrings and it wasn’t long before she realised this skill was her passion but at that time not her profession.

She went on to work in Paris and London and in 2013 she had her light bulb moment to live the dream and set up her own studio and workshop selling handmade, ethical contemporary jewellery in the tiny quaint village of Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds.