Maharani Baug for the Banjara (Nomadic soul) in you!

“Maharani Baug”(translated to mean “garden of pleasure”), is a Pune based jewelry label that has a charming collection of elegantly handpicked tribal jewelry and unique fashion accessories. These pieces are perfect to add that vintage, ethnic, bohemian touch to your festive attire. The creative team at Maharani Baug consists of the sister duo, Abhilasha and Aditi, who besides jewelry are also passionate about fashion, travel, design and all things beautiful. Their newest festive collection, titled “Shakti” has a wonderful mix of elaborate neckpieces, danglers, rings and anklets with a distinct aged patina that only adds to the charm of these pieces. A one-on-one with Aditi of Maharani Baug, got me talking about their journey so far and more about their latest collection Shakti. What’s more, the images shared here are exclusively just for you!

TECD:Hello and welcome to TECD, Aditi! So glad we are finally doing this feature! Let’s start by asking you how did Maharani Baug happen?

Aditi: “Thanks Sruthi, so excited to be featured here on TECD! 

My sister Abhilasha and I are lucky to be third-generation, army children. So, in a way, our family has been nomadic for the last three generations and this has created a yearning for travel, exploration and an eternal gypsy soul within us! We have been fortunate to witness several of India’s craft clusters first hand in our formative growing years and this has left such an indelible mark on us that it led both of us to create Maharani Baug despite our flourishing corporate careers! What started as admiration for our grandmother’s jewelry collection, collected by her over the years from her time in Pakistan and Kashmir, evolved into a great desire to share our love for jewelry and these bold, affordable and handmade pieces with the world.”

TECD: What would you say is the USP of your brand?

Abhilasha: “Firstly, our brand is a contradiction - we mix the old with the modern, the past with the present, the rough with the smooth and royal with the tribal.

Secondly, a lot of our pieces we sell are vintage! At Maharani Baug we love rescuing jewelry that is often being sold to be melted and converted into something flashy and new! We scout for pieces that have been pre-loved and that come with a story! We appreciate the history and heritage that comes with a vintage piece and makes us wonder about all the adventures the piece has had and the magical memories it created with its previous owner/s. As a rule, we never clean our vintage pieces - we love that they have a wonderful patina! Cleaning vintage pieces would actually make them loose some of the charm and character, so as you will notice on close examination, a lot of our jewelry shows a few spots of oxidation and signs of wear tear!"

TECD: Tell us more about your latest collection Shakti? 

Aditi: “This collection manifested from our desire to celebrate the feminine form SHAKTI - the manifestation of divine feminine creative power within us all. We consciously chose to launch this collection during Navratri, 9 Holy nights of celebrating our womanhood and also chose to work with an all-woman artisan base. Maharani Baug prides itself at assisting and empowering the women craftspeople of India and giving them a fair chance to earn a livelihood.”

TECD: What according to you, is the most satisfying aspect about your entrepreneurial venture?

Aditi: “The best part of this journey has been the chance to interact with wonderful women - first our craftswomen - we love and respect their craft, their dedication and their entrepreneurial skills and how wonderfully they balance home and work. Second, all the fabulous women patrons of Maharani Baug.”

TECD: Where does one shop for these pieces?

Aditi: “We currently sell via Instagram and our Facebookpage. Just drop us a line there with your questions about the products and pricing queries and we'll get back to you with the details."

I'm sure you are lusting over these gorgeous pieces, so head straight over to Maharani Baug's Insta page and make your pick before these limited edition beauties are all sold out !

(Image Courtesy: Maharani Baug)

Paarisha by Chinanshu (Featured Artist/Shop)

Chinanshu Sharma’s creations for the Bangalore based jewelry brand "Paarisha" is deeply rooted in her endeavor to answer her “true calling”. Like most success stories of small business owners, where experimentation and following the path less traveled pays off, provided persistence, talent, passion and hard work are a part of the equation. And Chinanshu got the equation right!

During a brief sabbatical after childbirth, Chinanshu (an ex-banker) decided to pursue Jewelry designing and metal smithing at the prestigious Indian Institute of Gem & Jewelry (Jaipur). The outcome has been “Paarisha By Chinanshu”, a jewelry line that is contemporary in appeal yet celebrates the uniqueness of handmade products. Blazing colors and authenticity in design are the very essence of Paarisha, all while catering to the style aesthetics of the free spirited urban woman. The boho-chic designs are a dynamic combination of spontaneity and inventive weaves, crafting pieces that portray fluid elegance!

The word “Paarisha” translates to “a pursuer of artistic expressions”. Each piece is dexterously hand woven at Chinanshu's home based design studio where clients are met by appointment only. A one-on-one consultation with the client and an in-depth understanding of what is to be delivered is the edge that sets Paasisha apart from the other jewelry labels out there. Using a variety of materials such as silk yarn, wood, glass, silver, paper, banana fiber, raffia to weave, braid, loop and knot to create jewelry that is nothing short of being termed as wearable art. Paarisha's collection is versatile allowing them to be paired beautifully with western and Indian outfits with ease.

Chinanshu’s designs are principally driven by her surroundings and her travel experiences. Talking about her source of inspiration this is what she had to share, “The inspiration for the designs is all around me….. From small chat with strangers to big things happening all around. My mind is always taking the surrounding movements, changes and their different colors in, to give shape to them through my designs. It’s a continuous process of creativity! 

Also having a family that was constantly traveling and a dad whose work commitments took him to different parts of India, I was used to moving around from place to place, meeting new people, experiencing their native customs and traditions, seeing their traditional arts and crafts and learning from them. Much of my work is, consciously or unconsciously a reflection of these travels as Wain says, a means for me to MOVE AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR.”

Her techniques are a strong reflection of her fascination for baskets and other weaves. Quoting Chinanshu, “To me, jewelry making is very meditative, and imbibing weaves into it helps make it more intricate and beautiful! I believe baskets are a very universal product, and every culture and every region has its own signature basket that is made from indigenous material- locally grown grass, weeds, gourds, fiber, dyes, etc. using the unique weaves of the region. I’d like to learn, experiment and reinterpret that in my own way to create a Paarisha trinket.”

Browse their entire collection at Paarisha.com or drop a line to Chinanshu at  Paarishadesign@gmail.com for a Paarisha catalogue. Paarisha ships worldwide (International Shipping charges on actual rates) with payments being accepted via Paypal.You could also connect with them via their FB page for regular updates.

Thank you Chinanshu and Sanchita for taking the time to connect with TECD. Warm wishes coming your way!

Image Copyright/Credit: Paarisha