Radhika and Gauri Tandon, sisters-in-law, founded the Isharya line of jewellery in 2004. The name combines their children’s names — Ishaan, Armaan and Arya. For the first three years though, they treated it as a hobby.
With local artisans in Mumbai, they created two or three collections each season and sold pieces to boutiques in the United States. When they started getting attention from more reputable retailers, media and celebrities, they took it up full time.
“We were just having fun designing jewellery for ourselves and friends when we got noticed by the editor of Daily Candy, an online US magazine, who wrote about our jewellery. Before we knew it, Isharya took off,” says Radhika.
That was in 2007, and there has been no turning back for the duo since then.
What are you showcasing?
This is a collection of our best-selling rings, earrings, necklaces and cuffs. Some have been inspired by the hues of the sea. Some showcase techniques like filigree or enamel, while others make use of material like polki mirrors or resin.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
We draw inspiration from a myriad of sources — cultural, historical and natural. Isharya styles are innovative and yet have a classic, international appeal. Our unique thumbprint is modernity infused with ethnicity.
For instance, in our Spring 2011 collection, we used the plique-à-jour enamelling technique. It is a beautiful but difficult technique that creates translucent enamel. In French, the term means “light of the day”. It was used in the Byzantine era and was later revived by Art Noveau artists in the late 19th century. We used this technique and used India-inspired motifs of lotus and paisley for the jewellery.
Who is the Isharya woman?
The woman Isharya dresses is confident, sensual and knows how to accessorise to stand out in a crowd. She has the appeal of casual luxury. Our jewellery has been picked up by many celebrities, from Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz or Drew Barrymore to Eva Longoria, Selena Gomez and other A-listers. Our pieces have also been featured in television shows like Gossip Girls, Modern Family and Entourage.
What is the price range of the jewellery?
Isharya jewellery ranges from 100-500 US dollars and Indian prices are 30 per cent lower. We’re now developing a network of outlets to retail our products.
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