KAIA×Apala, in association with The Telegraph, at Taj Bengal’s Mandarin was an exquisite three-day jewellery exhibition put up by the Delhi-based jewellery brand in collaboration with lifestyle pop-up specialist KAIA by Neha Agarwala. Hosted last month from August 27 to 29, it was Apala’s first showcase in the city of its handcrafted jewellery. The exhibition displayed a wide variety of traditional pieces with a contemporary appeal, including polki, silver and precious stones.
A chat with Apala founder Sumit Sawhney:
This is Apala’s first showcase in the City of Joy…
This city, where I think the joy is within and is spreading across everywhere in India through its art, is so rich in art in terms of the craftsmen. Even my craftsmen in Delhi are Bengalis. I had not been to Kolkata earlier but always admired the architecture; they were always an inspiration to me. Being in north Delhi, we have our own kind of craftsmanship — meenakari work and jadau technique. For me, it was about being in a place where the arts are infused together, a melange of the two craftsmanships.
Sterling silver pieces with pearl detailing displayed on colourful glass jars.
What are you showcasing?
There’s a lot of Victorian influence, which is here in Kolkata also. It has got its vintage old-world charm, which is very strong in my jewellery as well. They are India-centric in terms of the detailing but very contemporary. Being in silver and precious stones, it is very pickable. Bold yet elegant. You can wear it differently. You can wear it with a pair of shorts and turn it into an evening look and can also wear it for a formal occasion. That’s how versatile the jewellery is.
Apala has a very unique story in jewellery crafting. How did the journey of Apala start?
I was always into art. I used to paint. My mother told me that I used to carve chalk and make statues and jewellery was something I was leaning towards. I worked in some of the best jewellery houses in the country. Everybody is into gold, I thought I have to break the norm. I am very selective about people I decided to collaborate with.
These stunning pieces of sterling silver brooches are layered with gold and studded with precious stones.
What is the process that goes into making an Apala piece?
We are very experimental. We are trying to avoid doing jewellery like a cookie-cutter pattern. Each piece is a collection in itself. We ethically source the gemstones. We keep a relationship between the pieces and price. They are wearable. I have been formally trained in jewellery designing. Having seen the technical side to it, nowadays it is all computerised and CAD manufactured. I think I am sticking to the handmade stuff in my jewellery and that is how automatically the richness comes in my jewellery.
Who do you envisage wearing an Apala piece?
It is not just about celebrities but the common people. The pieces are very relatable. Everybody wants an Apala piece as it is almost of heirloom quality. A lot of people have shifted from their family’s traditional jewellery to our kind of jewellery. An Apala woman is strong-minded with substance, intellectual, quirky and fashion-conscious. Someone who is looking for something different. I have changed the style sense of so many women.
A sterling silver piece layered with 2K gold, it is handmade and designed with crafted peacocks. Precious gemstones like ruby and emerald are set on it.
Neha Agarwala and Sumit Sawhney
The Telegraph Spotted
Moon Moon and Raima Sen dropped by. The mother-daughter duo posed with Apala founder Sumit and KAIA’s founder Neha (extreme left).
“Everything is exquisite. I have been following their work on Instagram and Sumit appreciates art and the finesse. Every piece has a story to tell,” said Pushpak Sen.
