Vibha Gupta: Let’s Role-Play

Skilled jewellery designer Vibha Gupta, the brain behind Arkish Jewels, lets us delve into the aesthetics of her brand, and her journey into the fascinating world of gems, that she so passionately pursues. Her craft is ingenious and exquisite, that leaves a lasting impact on aficionados of glistening beauties! We blur the lines as we surpass gender barriers to unveil a jewelled 'chest'.

When did you realise that jewellery was your calling?

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I always had a knack for jewels. I’m a qualified jewellery designer from JPDC, where I studied designing. I went on further and acquired a diploma in jewellery manufacturing from the same institute. Later on, I headed to Jaipur, to study and learn about coloured stones. And finally, I completed a diploma from FGA, London. However, for me, learning will never stop. With each passing day, I learn and absorb new things. And also, being a mother of three, Arkish Jewels feels like my fourth child in the house.

You have been in the field of jewellery making for almost 15 years now. How has the journey been so far?

In retrospect, I feel, I was just an amateur, but an openminded college-going girl back then. I wanted to pursue MBA, but then designing happened. I believe, working on a piece is something that relieves the stress in me. From sketching, to designing, to finalising a piece of jewellery, the energy and hard work, that goes into creating beautiful jewellery, is what constantly encourages me. I would also like to advise, budding jewellery designers to focus on what makes them happy, because sooner or later, the sweat and toil that one puts in it, will definitely yield positive results.

Where do you draw inspiration from? What are the recurring themes and leitmotifs in your designs?

Some of the old styles and aesthetics. Other than that, what inspires me to create pieces, vary from geometrical figures, beautiful flowers, or little things around me. For instance, it could be a glass window too!

Were there any struggles and challenges that you faced?

Yes, there were some challenges, that I had to face head on.

When I started my career in the field of jewellery, generally, women were not treated at par with men and therefore, their zeal and talent was not even taken into consideration. But now, times have changed. We have progressed in terms of outlook, which now encourages and motivates women to create their own identity. However sometimes, even now, it gets difficult to get to the right sources, to produce the jewellery.

What kind of jewellery do you think suits the need of a modern woman?

Being a woman, I would want the jewellery that I am wearing, to lift the mood and that’s exactly what Arkish Jewels is doing. Jewellery is something you set your eyes on and feel it, and then move towards buying it. So, I want to see that gleam in the eyes of my customers, and want them to feel content. I design jewellery, which is moderately unconventional, and can be teamed with daily wear as well. It is not restricted to occasion wear only. Just like how these smart phones have now become a necessity more than luxury, I hope to make my line a necessity too.

What is your take on social media? Do you consider it a boon or bane?

Social media and the online presence of a brand plays an important role, particularly, when your brand is based in a foreign country. It is the best way to communicate with your audience, and make your presence felt globally. In today’s world, when everything is just a click away, and is available online, the brand has to definitely maintain its exclusivity, and make it stand out. However, there is also a fear of the designs being plagiarised, especially if you put the latest collections online.

Photographs by Archisman Misra. Styling by Trishla Chadha.

From the April 2016 issue of L’Officiel India.