Kalawi & Co. came to life as a memory, as something much more than just a business. In our conversation with the founder Anjali Tiwari, she shares, ‘long before there was a name, a logo, or a product, there was a quiet inner revelation that adornment could be sacred, that jewelry could carry emotion, energy, and lineage, not just form.’ After Anjali’s grandmother Kalawati passed away, there was an ache to give her life again; not in memory alone, but in creation. Kalawi carries her name, her grace, her strength, and her quiet authority. It became a way of keeping her presence alive, embodied in something protected, nurtured, and held with fierce loyalty.
Their creations do not simply stick to trends or conventional design. Each piece, thoughtfully crafted, takes on almost anatomical forms that feel sculpted rather than simply designed. Cast primarily in metal with a raw, tactile finish, the jewelry carries a striking visual weight: bold, reflective, grounded, as if the material itself remembers the body it adorns. More below.
Design Language
Every piece starts as a question of balance, intention, and presence. We are drawn to shapes that feel spiritually grounded, yet contemporary in their clarity. For us, volume and restraint exist together in every design. Our jewellery is crafted with purpose, designed to hold space rather than demand attention. We work at the meeting point of maximalism and minimalism, because that is where harmony lives. Each curve, each surface, each pause is considered until the piece feels settled. When worn, the form brings focus while allowing the body to remain at ease.
The human body is never an afterthought. We see it as a composition in itself, moving, evolving, alive. Kalawi designs are created to flow with that movement, to align with posture and presence. There is a sense of progression in every piece, reflecting our belief in becoming, continuity, and quiet transformation. The forms remain organic because they are intuitive. This allows them to move effortlessly between everyday life and ceremonial moments. Kalawi is meant to be lived in, styled instinctively, and carried with ease while retaining its presence.
Process and Making
Our process remains deliberately raw. It begins with conversations rather than sketches. We talk about things that cannot be measured; spirituality, memory, loss, strength, softness, becoming. We sit with emotions before we touch form. These feelings are translated into words, written loosely on paper, without hierarchy or judgment. From these words, shapes begin to appear. Forms arrive instinctively. They are sketched quickly, imperfectly, honestly.
Craft is central to our process. We work with Indian craftsmanship as a discipline, precise, skilled, and deeply intelligent, shaped through a contemporary lens and held to global standards. Material is treated with respect. The hand is visible, confident, and controlled. Yagyanshi, my co-founder, brings her perspective at every stage, ensuring each detail interacts harmoniously with the wearer and the body. For us, luxury is depth. Spirituality is alignment. Meaning lives in proportion, balance, and intent, rather than overt symbolism. Kalawi is our way of giving form to inner clarity. It is jewelry shaped by thought, worn through life, and carried forward with time.
Form, Inspiration and Wear
Folded metal feels honest to me. It reflects how things naturally take shape when they are handled, pressed, and worked with care. I like how a fold adds depth without making a piece feel heavy. It gives the metal character and movement while still keeping it quiet. The process itself is very tactile and intuitive, which matters to me as a designer.
The shapes in my jewelry come from spiritual concepts rather than visual references. Many of these ideas are intangible; they exist as feelings, states of mind, or internal experiences rather than physical forms. My process involves translating those abstract concepts into structure, proportion, and material presence. Yagyanshi shares this approach by bringing her perspective to how these forms exist in space and on the body. She studies balance, proportion, and movement, ensuring each piece interacts naturally with the wearer. Together, we test the sketches, share reactions, and refine until the shapes feel complete.
Looking Ahead
More than anything, I hope the jewelry allows people to feel seen without being exposed. Strong without being rigid. Expressive without needing explanation. Whether someone wears it every day or saves it for moments that matter, I want the experience to feel intimate and grounding. If a Kalawi piece helps someone move through the world with more presence, clarity, and self-belief, then it has done what it was meant to do.
This article is an excerpt from the February EZ. For more such stories, read the EZ here.
Words Neeraja Srinivasan
Date 25.2.2026