Joining the online retail phenomenon, Dubai-based Sapna Ahuja has gone global with her eight-year-old jewellery label, Esmeralda. Specialising in handmade fine silver jewellery, the 46-year old launched her label in 2009 to address the popular angst of many women — What do I pair with this outfit? “I launched my clothing label in 1998, and very often I would have clients who asked me how to style an outfit. Once I got into a comfortable pace with my clothing line, I started thinking about how jewellery could enhance my clothing line,” says Sapna, who subsequently gave up her garment business to follow her true calling. After a jewellery course at the Popleys Design Studio in Mumbai, the then Bengaluru-based designer moved to Chennai to work for Mehta Jewellers, following which she launched her own label in the city before moving to Dubai. Her current collection offers a range of earrings, pendants, finger rings and nose pins with beads and semi-precious stones.
The designer whose accessories come crafted in pure silver tells us how she uses varied polishing and finishing techniques that create different textures like a matte finish or high polish. “It could be a brushed finish that creates a criss-cross textured look. Sometimes I even use gold polish on the silver,” she shares. With motifs like tribal designs, floral patterns, Mughal art and architecture finding their way onto her jewellery, expect to find cut work earring with beads, horse-shoe shaped studs with drop stones and double hoop earrings.
Sapna, who has previously styled actor Ajit Kumar for movies like Uyirodu Uyiraga, assures,
“Esmeralda can be easily teamed up with either Indian or western silhouettes.” With a new Eid collection coming up, exclusive 18k gold lines are also in the making.
Rs 1,750 upwards. Details: esmeralda.littlemajlis.com