WHAT STARTED AS a channel to overcome depression is now blooming into a jewellery brand that stands out for its unique craftsmanship. Jute threads, clay, paintings and more string together to create bespoke pieces of jewellery that are not just artistic but also ecofriendly.
Priyata Banik, a resident of Dumdum started her eponymous label a year ago when her unique jewellery started catching people’s attention on Instagram. The student of animation says, “I was reeling under depression, when one day, I just happened to make a pair of earrings with discarded jute. My mom encouraged me and I started displaying them at my dad’s jewellery shop. After receiving appreciation from a customer I started making more and with encouragement from people around me, I finally opened my own store seven months ago.”
It’s interesting to know that each piece of jewellery has a story. For instance, a statement four-inch locket depicting a boy playing manjira (cymbal) on clay art, was inspired by a devotee at Iskon temple in the city, which the 26-year-old visited one day. Similarly, a rectangular earring with colourful stones fixed over a sleek black wooden strip, was made from stone chips scraped by her pet dogs at home. “I generally find inspiration from discarded things around me. So I’ve made jewellery from broken pieces of laminated sheets, leftover electric wires, wooden chips and more,” points out Priyata drawing our attention to a chunky locket with a silhouette of a woman painted on it. This was inspired by the opening scene of a web series, informs the young jewellery designer.
Her unconventional jewellery has reached places, including Dubai. Her jute jewellery is striking and we loved a neckpiece with floral motifs and knots jazzed up with white pearls. Another one with a tapestry of the earthy thread embellished with bright fabrics coiled into flowers is a hot pick too. In fact, this design sold 27 pieces in a month. Her Madhubala locket too sold quickly. “I usually do paintings but I thought of getting a photograph of Meena Kumari, the erstwhile diva of Bollywood, developed. I framed it on a clay base and painted it,” says Priyata who still gets enquiries about that order.
You can find her collections on Instragram: priyata_artwork