Etched with feelings, hand-crafted pieces never to be repeated again, studded with sensuality and experimentation' is the way Mr Ajay Leekha, designer of Adamus brand of jewellery describes his work. The basic concept behind his designs is "wearability". He says, "Jewellery is not meant to be kept in the coffers but to adorn oneself with."
Everything in his collection is studded with a whole array of gemstones like Tanzanite of Titanic fame, Tsarorites, Kunzites and Black Fire Opals from Australia.
Mr Leekha runs a studio at Hauz Khas, south Delhi, to sell personalised jewellery, which he also calls ``jewellery by appointment''. His collection was showcased at the recently held Jewel 2001, held at the Pragati Maidan.
Many other contemporary, traditional designers, whose brands have not yet been able to make a definite mark in the marketplace were together at the exhibition of exotic, yet wearable jewellery.
Mr Leekha also has a silver range called Adamus Silverline, which is crafted in purest of silver-95.8 per cent. His silver products are blended with bamboo, leather, cane, marble, gemstones, and wood and even Swarovski crystals.
The jewellery is priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 6 lakh and the silverline is priced between Rs 500 and Rs 25,000.
Another prominent designer in the show was Ms Roopa Vohra, a designer from Mumbai better known for her brand Thewa jewellery.
Thewa is a 400-year-old art of fusing 23K gold with coloured glass to produce objects of immense beauty. This art has strong Mughal derivations and is traditionally practised by a single family in Rajasthan.
Thewa is an art, which was becoming almost extinct until Ms Vohra revived it and branded it as Thewa jewellery.
Her products include sets, pendants, rings, brooches, tie-pins and cufflinks, vanity sets including mirrors, combs and hairbrush backsThe exhibition held between February 23 and 26, 2001, was meant to explode the myth that only big names sell. New entrepreneurs and fledgling designers displayed their items. The designs were done in both contemporary and traditional styles. Jewels 2001 did Rs 16 crore worth of cash transactions and orders could cross more than Rs 10 crore, according to Mr Syed Zakir Ahmed, who is the organiser and show manager for ANZ International Trade and Marketing Associates. The exhibition is now going to the United States with 20 participants from five different cities.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
