Designer Mrinalini Cariappa’s affinity for nature is reflected in the jewellery she crafts — from the greenish blue stones that represent rainforests to motifs finding inspiration from butterflies, insects and animals. Her label, Flames of The Forest, born back in 2005, has long been presenting statement pieces that showcase rare, semi-precious stones in their natural form. Now, Mrinalini has introduced a new line of earrings, rings and bracelets with designs that are way more intricate and delicate than her usual style. “I thought it was time to reinvent and move with the times, but also stay true to what Flames of The Forest stands for. So in those ways, this collection is quite a change for the label,” begins the Bengaluru-based designer.
Sourced from various parts of Russia and Africa, the pieces set in nickel-free sterling silver, often feature two or more different stones. “Often we find two different stones fused together, which makes for a very interesting colour story. Example, for this collection, we found a mix between an azurite and a malachite. Basically, blue and green combined — it’s just beautiful,” enthuses Mrinalini. The collection also uses other rare stones such as meteorite, lava, dendrite limestone, green amethyst, labradorite, lapis lazuli and moss agate. “The dendrite limestones have mineral formations that look like ferns. It’s quite stunning — almost like a work of art,” reveals the designer who graduated from Srishti School of Design.
Her love for nature also extends to the way she uses her stones — raw and uncut, allowing the natural beauty of the stone to come through. “The same stones look strikingly different based on where they’re sourced from. Stones from warmer places have more colour and brightness, while those from colder countries are a lot more subdued,” she explains.
Mrinalini is currently working on a line of colour-intensive necklaces for the festive season.
Rs.2,000 upwards. Details: flamesoftheforest.in