I have always loved color. I have never understood the appeal of minimalism or of neutrals. My couch is a deep emerald green made of velvet, and my mirror is a vivid gold oval with an ornate frame, making it look like it came out of a Disney movie. My wardrobe consists of sequins, beads, embroidery and every color and texture that you can think of. This is why I gravitated toward the artwork of Deepa Gurnani.
Gurnani’s work includes award-winning popcorn earrings made of cotton, glass beads and metallic thread; a blue and gold headpiece that made my jaw drop in awe, made from glass crystals, brass and semi- precious stones; an elegant headpiece depicting a bird flying from a cage which looks like it belongs in a museum and earrings capturing the beauty of nature in the form of swans, peacocks, octopi and macaws in colors from teal to garnet and fuchsia to gold, grabbing the attention of the viewer and refusing to let go. All of this and more shows the ingenuity and quality of each of Gurnani’s designs.
Expert artisan embroidery has deep roots in India, and Gurnani’s eponymous brand pays homage to this generational skill. Tradition cites that this is a craftsman’s handmade art form, and the brand has stayed true to the custom for over fifteen years, which has shaped who they are today. Owners Jay and Deepa — a husband and wife duo — are using the brand to bring back consciously made products to consumers at both luxury and affordable price points, offering adorned merchandise such as earrings, headbands, bracelets, wrist cuffs and face masks, among other products.
There are plenty of luxury jewelry brands out there, so what makes Deepa Gurnani unique? For starters, there’s the brand’s devotion to sustainability. Deepa Gurnani uses luxury and semi-precious stones, brass chains, glass, sea beads, stainless steel and Swarovski crystals. Its packaging varies from vegan leather to recyclable, natural materials, and the brand goes a step further by utilizing any excess textile waste to create its jewelry pouches in pursuit of being as low waste as possible. One may think this is an insignificant initiative, but when considering the fact that 78 million tons of packaging is produced every year, Deepa Gurnani is one of the few brands that is taking responsibility for both its products and its lifecycle.
Sustainability is important, but the brand’s most remarkable aspect? Its craftsmanship. Deepa Gurnani’s products are handmade in India, taking anywhere from eight to 72 hours to create. The quality of the artisans’ work shows in every intricate piece of jewelry.
Deepa Gurnani sets the standard high for businesses by sending local children to school through a charity partnership with buildOn — an organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty, low expectations and illiteracy through service and education — who will likely go on to be university students, lawyers, doctors and business professionals.
Deepa Gurnani stands for everything a brand should: expert craftsmanship, quality materials, low waste, conscious consumerism, fairly-paid workers and access to education. It reminds its consumers that “luxury is handmade,” and that every piece of jewelry can be a statement piece (because why not?).
To me, a better world looks like slow fashion and conscious consumerism. A world where the industry sources sustainable materials from fairly paid workers in safe and eco- friendly working conditions. Deepa and Jay’s business gives me hope when it comes to the future of the fashion industry and in turn, the state of our planet. Brands such as Deepa Gurnani are striving to make this better world a reality in the most colorful way possible.
