A ceremonial ode to gold
Designer Nadia Chhotani launches latest collection for the luxurious and elegant Pakistani bride
The collection features necklaces, elaborate maalas, teekas, maatha pattis, baazobandhs and ring bracelets. PHOTO: PUBLICITY
KARACHI:
Pakistani women and time-honoured jewellery go hand-in-hand. Having tapped into the business of jewellery seven years ago, Nadia Chhotani has now launched an outlet, which houses a variety of gold pieces. Her first flagship store is named after her great grandfather, Noor Mohammad Chhotani, who was known as N M Chhotani.
Following the success of her previous wedding collections, Chhotani unveiled her ‘Ceremonial’ collection, suited for the elaborate Pakistani bride, according to a press release. From yellow gold to antique pieces, Chhotani offers ethnic jewels, inspired by the Mughals. The collection is an ode to the designer’s experience in the glamorous business of couture jewellery. An eye-catching depiction of traditional ornaments coupled with a modern twist, her creations embody a classic yet regal appeal.
Chhotani laments that there hasn’t been optimum growth in the jewellery market and that she herself has evolved in her craft with time. “If you see my earlier designs, my pieces used to be laden with gemstones. Now, I utilise more metal in my pieces for a fresh twist,” she says. The ‘Ceremonial’ collection features a series of pieces, including necklaces, elaborate maalas, teekas, maatha pattis, baazobandhs and ring bracelets. Her collection embodies the grace and elegance of a contemporary yet luxe Pakistani bride.
From her signature intricate filigree jhaals to detailed engraving and etching patchwork, Chhotani’s pieces mainly comprise metal work, silky chain meshes and meenakari embellished with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz, polki and pearls. She draws inspiration for the stone-cutting from Harry Winston and French designer Van Cleef for her floral designs.
Discussing the current spot of her flagship store, which is located near Gulf Shopping Centre in Clifton, she says, “I’m satisfied with our location. The security is great.” She says about the store’s space capacity, “I can’t cater to a big crowd but it works out well since I need to focus on my limited clientele at the moment.”
Divulging a brief history about her great grandfather, the designer says, “He started off with his gold business in 1938 in Ahmadabad, one of the largest cities in pre-partition India.” She adds, “Fast-forward to post-partition, my grandfather, Usman Chhotani, opened his shop in a small alley of Saddar in Karachi till he moved it to Main Zaibunnisa Street.” It was only until recently that Chhotani took up her family’s legacy.
Chhotani belongs to the fourth generation of the 70-year-old family business. “A great responsibility rests on my shoulders. I need to take forward our reputation in the market.” On whether she was pushed into the business fold, she states, “It was completely my choice and, once I got a fellowship opportunity to study gemology courses in the US in 2008, I decided that I would join the family trade.”
With promising customer response and the appreciation she has received on social media, Chhotani says she’s keen on exhibiting her collection in Islamabad and Lahore in the next two months. She also reveals that she plans on introducing an elaborate meenakari and kundan collection in her Karachi store.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2015.
Pakistani women and time-honoured jewellery go hand-in-hand. Having tapped into the business of jewellery seven years ago, Nadia Chhotani has now launched an outlet, which houses a variety of gold pieces. Her first flagship store is named after her great grandfather, Noor Mohammad Chhotani, who was known as N M Chhotani.
Following the success of her previous wedding collections, Chhotani unveiled her ‘Ceremonial’ collection, suited for the elaborate Pakistani bride, according to a press release. From yellow gold to antique pieces, Chhotani offers ethnic jewels, inspired by the Mughals. The collection is an ode to the designer’s experience in the glamorous business of couture jewellery. An eye-catching depiction of traditional ornaments coupled with a modern twist, her creations embody a classic yet regal appeal.
Chhotani laments that there hasn’t been optimum growth in the jewellery market and that she herself has evolved in her craft with time. “If you see my earlier designs, my pieces used to be laden with gemstones. Now, I utilise more metal in my pieces for a fresh twist,” she says. The ‘Ceremonial’ collection features a series of pieces, including necklaces, elaborate maalas, teekas, maatha pattis, baazobandhs and ring bracelets. Her collection embodies the grace and elegance of a contemporary yet luxe Pakistani bride.
From her signature intricate filigree jhaals to detailed engraving and etching patchwork, Chhotani’s pieces mainly comprise metal work, silky chain meshes and meenakari embellished with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz, polki and pearls. She draws inspiration for the stone-cutting from Harry Winston and French designer Van Cleef for her floral designs.
Discussing the current spot of her flagship store, which is located near Gulf Shopping Centre in Clifton, she says, “I’m satisfied with our location. The security is great.” She says about the store’s space capacity, “I can’t cater to a big crowd but it works out well since I need to focus on my limited clientele at the moment.”
Divulging a brief history about her great grandfather, the designer says, “He started off with his gold business in 1938 in Ahmadabad, one of the largest cities in pre-partition India.” She adds, “Fast-forward to post-partition, my grandfather, Usman Chhotani, opened his shop in a small alley of Saddar in Karachi till he moved it to Main Zaibunnisa Street.” It was only until recently that Chhotani took up her family’s legacy.
Chhotani belongs to the fourth generation of the 70-year-old family business. “A great responsibility rests on my shoulders. I need to take forward our reputation in the market.” On whether she was pushed into the business fold, she states, “It was completely my choice and, once I got a fellowship opportunity to study gemology courses in the US in 2008, I decided that I would join the family trade.”
With promising customer response and the appreciation she has received on social media, Chhotani says she’s keen on exhibiting her collection in Islamabad and Lahore in the next two months. She also reveals that she plans on introducing an elaborate meenakari and kundan collection in her Karachi store.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2015.