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It's no longer dear

As costume jewellery makes its presence felt in the country, ANUJ KUMAR speaks to designer Punita Trrikha taking the trend to the masses

THE LATEST IN THE LOOP Model Indrani Dasgupata flaunting Punita Trrikha's jewellery collection

Jewellery business is going through a metamorphosis. Glitter no longer defines it, nor do the expensive metals. If you thought moving on from gold to platinum or simply yellow to white is chic, then you are out of the fashion loop. For these are the times to experiment - beads, wood and crystals. What's more, there is a growing concept of costume jewellery where in the jewellery is designed not only keeping in mind what outfit you want to flaunt but at times take the shape of a silhouette or an accessory itself.

One of the leading proponents in the field is Punita Trrikha who claims she is the only one in Asia practising costume jewellery using swarovski crystals. Says Punita, "More and more women are looking for options beyond gold and platinum. The advantages here are plenty. One can use multiple colours to go with the dresses. Another advantage with swarovski crystals is they come in various size and shapes."

Crystal shawls

Punita excels with shawls made of crystals and metal wires that drape really well. "They are skin-friendly and the wires don't show." She also offers seheras and jaimalas studded with crystals. In demand during the marriage season, Punita says together with chooda these are some of her most sought after creations. Punita continues, crystals make designs pocket-friendly. "A design that would cost Rs.20 lakhs in kundan will cost just Rs.40,000 in crystals."

She also offers pearls, beads and wooden jewellery for office-going women. "My range starts at Rs.500 and goes up to 75,000, so there are plenty of options for a common woman to choose from for different occasions. There is life-long guarantee for every product." Punita, 41, started her career as an airhostess with Indian Airlines. "I used to design for my family members but four years back during a visit to Paris I enrolled myself for a hobby course in costume jewellery. It made me change my career and I took jewellery designing as a full-time career."

Beyond the woman on the street, Punita flaunts a starry clientele as well studded with the likes of Rani Mukerjee, Shilpa Shetty and Ayesha Shroff.

In fact, she first made it to the headlines when she designed jewellery for Feroz Khan's Janasheen followed by Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya where she designed for Salman Khan and Sushmita Sen. "Now I am working on Marigold and Jackie Shroff's Thoda Life Thoda Magic."

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