Urbanitii (Featured shop/artist)

The Memphis based jewelry design label “URBANITII” is one to book mark if you love handcrafted jewelry pieces that are chic, feminine, stylish, and affordable and give you that edgy look. The artist at Urbanitii, Vidhya Maghanathsunder, meticulously designs and creates these handcrafted pieces that are not only aesthetically unique but are also a symbol of beauty and the artists originality. Forging a relationship with creativity and finding her true calling, Vidhya, a self-taught jewelry designer, churns out collections for Urbanitii that covers a broad spectrum of genres, be it ethnic, contemporary, boho, modern, quirky, simple or bold. What makes Urbanitii stand out from the rest of the players in the same field is that the designs do not conform to predictability or rigidity. Every collection is dedicated to attempting new techniques and methods in crafting jewelry and is an artisanal blend of different styles, metals, textures and colors.

THE LATEST FROM URBANITII'S COLOR BURST COLLECTION

TECD: Hello Vidya and welcome to TECD! Let us get started by asking you, the significance of the name “Urbanitii” ?

Urbanitii: “Growing up in India I was always exposed to the beauty and fine craft that jewellery making was. So it is an influence of those sensibilities and blending it into smart n easy wear pieces for an urban life, hence 'Urbanitii' (urbanity).” 

TECD: Tell us what made you heed to your creative calling? 

Urbanitii: “I was not of those who was focused on a dream of how my future must plan out, while growing up. I was fortunate enough to have a happy childhood, and completed my undergrad and masters with no particular ambition, although I gave my best to whatever I did. I was a 'happy go lucky girl'. 

Post marriage, I moved to the US. Coming from a family of creative individuals and having inherited some artistic qualities, the resources in the US intrigued me and I got exploring. My initial tryst with being creative was when I started painting abstracts. I found myself to be very happy doing so. Soon kids came along and I was a busy stay at home mom, still unaware of what my true calling was. It was 2 yrs after my second child that I was at a crafts store and spotted some beautiful beads on sale. I bought them and rushed back home excited. A few youtube videos later and a lot of practice, I was creating my own jewelry. In no time I was back at the store buying some basic tools and more beads and voila! There began my journey with beads, strings, colors n all things beautiful. The moment Urbanitii was born.” 

TECD: Tell us more about Vidhya, the person behind the label? 

Urbanitii:"Coming from a technology background of BCA and MCA, I never had an opportunity to work with corporates. Do I miss having experienced that? Hmm…Maybe.. But I would never want to trade on the contentment and happiness I get being a self made entrepreneur and making my own statement pieces. Being an entrepreneur teaches you a million lessons that you cannot learn in any business school. 

I truly believe in living a very simple and uncomplicated life. I have a mental list of things that make me happy. I intend to keep expanding on the Happy List and focus very less on frivolous matters.”

TECD: Would love for you share a few of the million valuable lessons that you learnt along your creative journey? 

Urbanitii: “Grit and Persistence are the only 2 words. I teach them to my kids too. It will automatically lead you to success.

Running a small business and making a living out of it is no easy task. Penny pinch all your expenses. It helps in the long run. And TRUST yourself. There will be a million times you will doubt yourself. Trust your gut and plough through. You will reach the stars!”

TECD: Each of the pieces is simply exquisite. Please give us a run-through of your creative process? 

Urbanitii: “My inspiration in creating a piece of jewelry has been the raw materials itself. Often, People ask me if I sketch or have a vision in my head. The answer is, No. I carefully do an expanded research in acquiring raw materials globally. My designing is an 'on the go' process. Don't get me started on the number of stringing and unstringing of beads. But I do it till I get it right. 

Working with new materials is always a challenge. But I love it because you learn so much in the process. I get a prototype done and apply the techniques on other pieces.”

TECD: What according to you has been your most memorable experience w.r.t. Urbanitii?

Urbanitii: ”My very first sale! I was delighted by the fact that someone loved my design and creation as much as me. Moreover, it was my first salary, which was a big deal to me. I had sleepless nights for the next 2 days, purely out of joy!”

TECD: What are future plans for Urbanitii?

Urbanitii: "I’m thrilled about the fact that there has been growth every year since we opened. Our main focus right now is to make Urbanitii more accessible to people. Even though we ship globally, international shipping costs have always been a deciding factor for people in India. We are currently looking at collaborating with high end boutiques and stores in India.” 

Thank you Vidhya for taking the time to connect with my readers and sharing your inspiring creative journey. We wish Vidhya all the very best for all that is in store!

You could connect with Urbanitii via their FB page and also write to Vidhya at urbanitiistudio@gmail.com for custom orders.

(Image Credit/Courtesy: Urbanitii) 

Spotlight on the Genesis of “Soumeiran” and their latest jewelry collection “Shaarada”

"Soumeiran", the UK based jewelry brand, harmoniously blends that which is old and new. Taking traditions and heritage of ineffable India and translating that into the style needs of the woman of today is an effortless undertaking for the lady behind the brand, Suchitra Hattangudi Gulvady. Professionally trained in Applied Arts from Mumbai, Suchitra has the combined expertise of being a graphic designer with various e-learning companies and that of being an illustrator with apparel companies. Suchitra is a one woman team when it comes to Soumeiran. She handles all tasks associated with conceptualizing to sourcing, designing to making, photographing to editing, and  advertising and logistics!  

Her jewelry creations for Soumeiran are heavily influenced by her Indian ethnicity. Her deeply ingrained and insatiable love for India’s indigenous arts, crafts and textiles has just grown stronger having lived away from India for so long. Quoting Suchitra, “The renaissance and revival that these industries are going through, along with people becoming more aware and appreciative and endorsing these industries’ works, paired with the brilliance of everything accessible on the internet, makes me think it’s one of the best of times ever to belong here and work with.” Although India is her main pool for inspiration, her designs also exhibit a streak of her experiences living overseas and the exposure to global art, culture and history. 

TECD : Welcome to TECD Suchitra! Let’s start by asking you what does Soumeiran mean?

Suchitra: I would like to start with a warm and heartfelt thank you to Sruthi and TECD for sharing this amazing platform to showcase Soumeiran to its wonderful audience. It is a delight and an honor, to say the least. 

The name Soumeiran (soo – mee – run) is an excerpt from Sanskrit translating to mean prayer beads strung together. 

TECD: Tell us more about your creative journey into the field of jewelry designing?

Suchitra : Soumeiran, if I may say so, is serendipity personified. Having lived away from home for about eleven years now, brought with it starting life from scratch, finding my own feet in a foreign land, a great deal of independence but also responsibility, the biggest of all was of having my own family. As much as it is exhilarating and amazing to have all that, it was at times quite daunting! Being from a creative background I reached a point when I just HAD TO get back in touch with my creative side as routine was getting frustrating and I needed a getaway. Some kind of liberation. Something that I could call and tend to as only my own! I have always wanted to paint but having two very young children meant having very little time left for myself to pursue it. One day I breezed through Google looking for silver jewelry for myself. I have always loved silver jewelry and chanced upon some online stores based in the Far East. I happened to buy some for myself and was amazed at its quality and craftsmanship. I started researching more about various styles of jewelry and the process that went into making them. Obviously the first stop was of Indian genre. I then embarked on this search for material, and I got drawn into it quite quickly. So much so that I got hooked. Before I knew it, I had ordered my first small lot of silver, followed soon by gemstones. I taught myself how to make the pieces and I thoroughly enjoyed making them. It was meditative, to say the least. I have never looked back since. 

TECD: What would you say is the USP of Soumeiran? 

Suchitra: The ethos of Soumeiran is to represent exquisite, original and creative work through quality craftsmanship. We extensively work with silver and gemstones combined into one of a kind jewelry/wearable art. We primarily source on the lines of the temple jewelry genre, bringing forth highly exquisite craftsmanship and stunning design motifs that date way back into time, only to be rediscovered and given a contemporary twist. Right from the conception of Soumeiran, we have emphasized on amalgamating colors in the form of genuine gemstones with our silver. As much as silver is the heart and soul of Soumeiran, the use of genuine, quality gemstones from highly trusted sources is what brings in a totality. We can’t stress enough on the use of honest components, however little or big they are. Thus each piece is made to last a lifetime because of the same. 

TECD: Flamboyant statement pieces that lend an air of bold yet feminine flair to any outfit. Who according to you is the ideal Soumeiran woman?

Suchitra: The ideal Soumeiran woman is one who has a very keen eye for design and color; one who is a seeker for something new, unusual and different; one who has a deep connection with her roots and yet enjoys all that is modern and finally, the most important, being someone who wears her jewelry with pride.

TECD: What would you say has been your most memorable experience w.r.t. Soumeiran?

Suchitra: To be honest, it can’t be put down to one but many memorable experiences since Soumeiran came into existence. Without sounding patronizing, it would have to be every single person I have bonded with through Soumeiran. There are some amazing women here in the UK and across the globe, who I otherwise wouldn’t have had the pleasure of even knowing! As if we all are bound by the same invisible thread, we connect through our common love for design, arts and crafts. I will utterly cherish this all my life, and I am sure I have made these connections for ever. 

TECD: Suchitra, your latest collection Shaarada, is truly one of a kind! We’d like to know more about the Bor Maal’ beads that are extensively used in this collection? 

Suchitra: The collection – Soumeiran Shaarada, that I am so thrilled to be showcased on TECD revolves around this century old (so I have been told) technique of making silver bi-cone shaped beads that were used to make a traditional style of necklace in the Western parts of India, called the ‘Bor Maal’ (string of berries / berry shaped beads). This labor intensive technique has been painstakingly yet successfully carried out by skilled craftsmen to make these beads, which we were fortunate enough to source, after seeking them for a long time and almost giving up hope on them ever to be made, because of it being so laborious and almost unattainable. We have used some really select gemstones – Golden Obsidian, Larvikite, Chrome Diopside, Turquoise (not Howlite!) and Lapis Lazuli along with temple motif silver amulets and pendants to make one of a kind neck wear pieces. 

TECD: The cult following that you have in such a short period of time is admirable to say the least. What has been your success mantra as a small business owner? 

Suchitra : I suppose, fulfillment thereby success lies in being true to yourself and your work, what you showcase. There’s a big audience out there who highly appreciates and really values genuine, honest work and one must always strive to work towards that, and only that will make you stand out, get noticed. It is also a much happier place to be in where a healthy, positive atmosphere is maintained between fellow artists and makers, and honest, good work is always mutually encouraged and appreciated. Lastly, success and humility have to go hand in hand! 

TECD: On a concluding note, tell us what’s next on the charts for Soumeiran? 

Suchitra: I hope the future holds great promise for Soumeiran – we will continue to showcase like we always have, some completely new designs straight from the source – be it ear wear, neck-piece range or maybe something else that has always been highly received by the audience. We hope to build some amazing connections with more connoisseurs of handmade jewelry and crafts, and that Soumeiran stays on a joyous ride like always!

A stunning collection won't you agree? Personally what I love about Soumeiran is that each piece is truly one-of-a-kind -individually crafted to mirror the personality of its wearer. Soumeiran ships worldwide. To get your piece of Soumeiran, please email Suchitra at soumeiran@gmail.com for your copy of the catalog/lookbook or connect with her via Soumeiran's Facebook page. 

Thank you Suchitra, it was a pleasure connecting with you! My TECD readers and I, wish you all the very best in your creative endeavor.....

(Image Credit/Courtesy: Soumeiran)