18k Gold-Plated Natural Labradorite Pendant Necklace - Nocturnal Dazzle

Artisan Organization: Shivani Choudhary

Country: India

"I'm from New Delhi, the capital city of India, where I was born in 1985. I am a Scorpio and a very creative, ambitious, and hardworking person.

"My mother is a fashion designer and my biggest inspiration. I grew up watching her balance her time between work and home. She has an apparel boutique and worked very hard to run it. Even at the age of 64, she is so hardworking and active. I aspire to be like her. As a child, I frequently visited her boutique and loved the bright colors, lovely designs, and the charm of the apparel. Everything there fascinated me, even the ambience.

"I graduated from the university in architecture and also studied interior design at a local design institute. For a few years, I worked as an architect in a firm but I didn't feel the same satisfaction and happiness that I used to feel when I visited my mother's boutique. I always wanted to be a designer, so I decided to leave my job as an architect and assist my mother in her boutique. She has been my mentor and guide all throughout. After my marriage and the birth of my first child, I could no longer help my mother in her boutique, so I designed some clothing at home to add to her collection.

"I wanted to do something more, so I decided to try my hand at designing jewelry. Even when I designed apparel, I'd advise shoppers on what kind of jewelry would complement their outfits. I would even sketch some suggested jewelry designs for them.

"Initially, it was very difficult to balance family and professional life, but I slowly and gradually made my way through. Now, I have a small workshop and a team of artisans working with me to give shape to my designs. My jewelry is both traditional and modern. We use silver, brass, copper, gold, and colorful gemstones, and also work with leather and wood.

"My work is unique. I love creating new designs although it's challenging to come up with unusual designs every day to fulfill each customer's needs. I sing inspiration everywhere, like nature, animals, humans, birds, and technology, as well as the intricate jali work and carvings in the royal palaces and forts of Rajasthan.

"We have participated in many local wedding and jewelry exhibitions in Delhi and the NCR (National Capital Region). The team of artisan who collaborate with me is innovative and expert. My workshop provides jobs to the local community and their salaries help them educate their children. My dream is to expand globally and make my work known on a larger scale.""