India International Jewellery Week: Glitz & Glamour Galore

The first ever India International Jewellery Week conclusively proved to the international audience of buyers and media gathered for the show that India has come of age where designer jewellery is concerned.
India International Jewellery Week:
Glitz & Glamour Galore
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The first ever India International Jewellery Week conclusively proved to the international audience of buyers and media gathered for the show that India has come of age where designer jewellery is concerned. Diamond World does a recap of the IIJW. Fashion forward. That is the way the Indian jewellery industry is headed, from the looks of what emerged out of the India International Week (IIJW) organised by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council between August 15 and 19, 2010.

“Having established a pre-eminent position in the polished diamond market where we have a 70% share in value terms and 85% share by volume, we now want to showcase India’s ability in the jewellery sector,” Vasant Mehta, chairman, GJEPC said when announcing the IIJW. But it was not just any jewellery that he was talking about. The event was conceptualised to focus on special, high end jewellery, from designers and design houses.

The IIJW, which emphasised the Indian jewellery sector’s breaking out of the mould of a traditional marketplace got underway, fittingly, on the 63rd Independence Day of India. Speaking at the inauguration, Mehta said, “As I stand here today, on the Independence Day of our country, I cannot help but remember the sterling words of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as he unfurled the flag of the new state on the midnight of 14th/15th August 1947. “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny,” he said. “And now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.” He was a great man, speaking of a large canvas – the destiny of a nation, which is today a strong country, with one of the fastest growing economies and a market with the greatest potential. It is a country too, which is one of the leading forces in the gems and jewellery arena. And I, in a very humble manner, would like to borrow his words and apply them to the smaller, but nonetheless sparkling canvas of this jewellery industry. We too made a tryst with destiny when we first ventured out in the international gems and jewellery markets. Today, we are redeeming that pledge, and very substantially.

In all, 33 shows were held in the course of the five days, each adding its bit of fiery sparkle to create an extremely bright week.

Leading Indian designers like Farah Khan Ali, Varun D Jani, Bina Goenka, Rhea Nasta, to famed design houses like Mirari, Gitanjali, Amrapali, Tanishq, Ganjam, showcased exquisite jewellery collections. The IIJW also featured upcoming designers from NID, NIFT and new talent from the industry.

The jewellery was displayed against the backdrop of haute couture from top fashion designers from India and abroad. There was Kanwaljit Singh and his team from Institute Callegari, Wendell Rodricks, Anna Singh, Raghavendra Rathore, Archana Kochhar, Sonia Vajifdar, Neeta Lulla, Ken Ferns, Shyamal and Bhumika, Asif Shaikh and Sajeda Virji, Tamae Hirokawa from Japan, Priyanka Karunakaran and Archana Walavalkar.

The IIJW opened with a dazzling and starlit show by Gitanjali Lifestyle while the Grand Finale on August 19th, titled “The Best of the Best”, as the name suggests was a single extravaganza with brief segments from all the prior shows.

The elite of Mumbai and other Indian cities, as well as buyers and media from all over the world gathered as the show unfolded day after day.

On the penultimate day, a visibly excited Vasant Mehta confirmed to Diamond World that the show had been a great success. “The visitors were most impressed,” he said. “We have now proved beyond doubt that India has arrived.”

“It was the first ever such event in Asia and on such a large scale, anywhere in the world," said Sanjay Kothari, Convener of the Promotions, Marketing and Business Development Committee of the GJEPC.

The jewellery on display spanned a large variety – from royal and traditional bridal jewellery to high-end diamond and gemstone studded creations which dazzled with the sheer wattage of the glittering gems; to breakaway creations like gold woven attire and bejewelled accessories. It was truly a time to let the imagination run riot and let the eyes feast on things of many splendoured beauty.

Adding a large dose of glamour to the entire event were Bollywood stars, TV stars and other celebrities who displayed the jewellery of the designers or participated in their shows.

While Katrina Kaif was the show stopper for Nakshatra, Dino Morea showed off the Menz collection. Mother-daughter duo Lilette and Ira Dubey walked the ramp for Mirari and TV stars, Surveen Chawla, Tarina Patel, Meenu Sahorayen and Sayali Bhagat lit up the stage for Sangini, D’Damas, Asmi and Gili respectively.

Deepika Padukone had the crowd raving as she displayed Farah Khan Ali’s jewellery. Mansi Scott provided crooning delight for the Gitanjali Debut Collection. Golecha Jewels had Reha Sukheja, Miss India Universe, first runner up from the “I Am She” contest. Isha Koppikar Narang modeled the Dwarkadas collection.

Jesse and Sandip Saparrkar waltzed for Rhea Nasta. Hip hop singer, Hard Kaur walked the ramp for Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers and her dance rival Gauhar Khan for CVM. Kriplani and Sons had Vaishali Desai, Surana Jewels got Nikita Nigam while Manubhai Zaveri opted for Sagarika Ghatge. Swansukha Jewellers brought elegant Sharmila Tagore and Amrapali had Konkana Sen Sharma. For the Best of the Best show Raghav Sanchar rendered an inspiring version of Vande Mataram, while Giselle Monteiro, Mugda Godse, Ayesha Takia Azmi and Sonakshi Sinha set the ramp afire.

Designer Varua Jani introduced her VOW (Very Own Wish) collection, in a show put together by Chhaya Momaya, another Page 3 darling.

Interestingly, Banagalore based CKC included a segment teaming jewellery with denim outfits – emphasising the youth factor in today’s market.

The Kundan Meena jewllery presented by the Jaipur Jewellery Show (JJS) included a wide spectrum of jewellery and offered a choice of adornment like never before, reiterating that old is truly gold, but can also have a contemporary relevance.

Innovation was represented by Laksh Pahuja’s Gandhi and Raavan necklaces and other pieces as well as by the gold garments and handbags by Sangam chains, and Rhea Nasta’s diamond studded pair of shoes.

Even as the curtain came down on the last show, audience and organisers alike were looking ahead to IIJW 2011. While the organizers promised a show even grander than this year’s, the audiences are set to come back in greater numbers.


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