Former Public Relations and IT professional, Aishwarya Kannan’s love for South Indian-style jewellery saw her conceptualising The Bodhi Maram, an online store for artisanal products about eight years ago. But it was only in December 2017 that it finally took shape.
“After completing my Masters in English Literature, I went down the route of PR for a few years, post which I got into the software field. It was a happy accident. Intellec-tually it was stimulating and I stuck around for many years. But I knew I would eventually go back to The Bodhi Maram and end up exploring the colourful world of Indian artisans,” reveals Aishwarya, who has teamed up with her mother, Gayathri
Kannan, who has been in the business of sourcing handwoven saris for over a decade, and her grandmother, Girija Kumaraswamy, who adds to The Bodhi Maram experience with her selection of homemade pickles, masalas and mixes.
Silver stories
Boasting a range of temple jewellery that includes necklaces, earrings, bangles, bracelets and more, the collection is ornate and colourful thanks to the use of multi-hued stones and gems, such as turquoise and coral. “When curating the pieces, depending on whether it’s a necklace, a bangle or earrings, we keep in mind a few things — weight, appeal, price and ease of maintenance,” shares Aishwarya, adding that they are all made from 92.5 silver.
Weave connect
The intricately designed neckpieces and opulent earrings bearing artfully cast Ganesha and Lakshmi motifs, pair beautifully with the vibrant saris on offer. “We currently have linen, ikat, khadi cotton and Chettinad cotton saris as part of our main collection, apart from Bagru-printed and Kalamkari saris. We are trying to be more mindful and not stock silk saris in an effort to be animal friendly as a label,” she explains, adding that sustainability is something that is important to her. “We have just begun learning about it. We’ve begun by reducing the use of plastic in our business and wrapping our packages with upcycled block- printed newspaper,” says Aishwarya, who is currently working on a collection of mixed- media jewellery.
Rs.350 upwards