Mom & I (1980 & 2024) in jewels made by my great grand-father
Jewelry has held a deeply significant place in my life, especially growing up in India, where it was an essential part of every celebration - whether big or small. By the time I was a year old, I already had several gold rings and necklaces adorned with precious stones. Each year, I would receive something special - new or passed down - from elders on both sides of my family. Whether handcrafted by my great-grandfather or extended uncles, or purchased from a local shop, these pieces were more than just decorative - they were heartfelt expressions of love. As I grew older and began to lose some of those elders, my appreciation for these treasures only deepened. These little pieces of jewelry had witnessed lifetimes beyond my own. I often imagine my grandfather and great-grandfather meticulously crafting them in their workshops, and recall my mother or grandmothers wearing them during my childhood years.
Wearing my mother's wedding jewels from 1979 at my own wedding in 2011
Heirlooms have always held a deep and personal meaning for me, as each piece carries with it a story, a legacy, and a life that transcends generations. There’s a certain energy embedded in them - a quiet echo of the journeys they’ve witnessed. On my wedding day, I wore the same jewelry my mother had worn at her own wedding 32 years earlier, hand-made by her grandfather. It was already a profoundly meaningful day, but wearing those pieces made it even more special. Another of my most cherished heirlooms is a pair of earrings passed down to me by my grandmother - graceful danglers inspired by the “peepal” or sacred fig leaf. Inheriting them ignited something within me - a realization of how vital it is to preserve traditional craftsmanship and bring fading artisan crafts into contemporary relevance, so that younger generations can truly connect with and appreciate their cultural heritage.
My grand-mother's peepal patti danglers circa 1950s
The desire to revive traditional artisan crafts and create meaningful heirlooms for future generations inspired me to design our first collection, rooted in the 250-year-old Peepal Patti craft of Punjab, which still flourishes in its birthplace - Patiala. I named the collection “ MĪRĀS,” a word meaning heirloom or inheritance in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu - three languages that weave through my daily life in music, conversation, and cinema.
The collection is designed to seamlessly complement modern life - whether at work or a dinner party - while preserving the reverence and spirit of the traditional craft. Hope you enjoy wearing them and passing them down with the same love that I created them with.
