Roma Narsinghani's jewellery, in her own words, ‘tells a tale through shapes inspired by the universe – each shining on its own and fitting together like a puzzle, creating something soulful and conscious.’ The designs, sophisticated and bold, demand attention while inspiring awe. Balanced between form and function, these consciously created handcrafted pieces royally adorn the wearer to become symbols of poise, confidence, and self-assurance.
Roma’s jewellery is a celebration of cultural heritage intertwined with a commitment to sustainability. The striking pieces divert the gaze to themselves, presenting an audacious aura that isn’t afraid to take up space. Exploring the depths of the brand and the beacon behind it, we’re in conversation with Roma Narsinghani to know more.
Tell us about your early years. How did you come to be interested in working with jewellery?
Looking back at my first dive into jewellery design, it feels like a stroke of serendipity. In March 2016, as I prepared for my wedding, my mom gathered her old saris and baubles. Among them, I discovered a broken hair bun cage with stones. Inspired, I decided to give it my own spin for one of the ceremonies. Coincidentally, I was working with Media Makers at the time — the company produces fashion shows for India Fashion Week. At fittings when I was wearing my piece, designer Anju Modi noticed and asked for more for her show. Ogaan got in touch right after and wanted to stock the jewellery. The experience ignited a curiosity to make more, prompting me to experiment and create my very first collection. I went on to do multiple short courses after to get a better understanding of the technical aspects of jewellery design.
How would you describe your brand and work in a sentence?
Exploring love, geometry, and mythology to create conscious, contemporary, cosmic designs.
The aesthetics of your collections range from being fierce and contemporary to sophisticated and delicate. How do you approach your designs?
Every collection takes on a different process, to be honest. For example, for our collection ‘Sundays are for Love,’ we delved into the concept of intimacy by crafting shapes that give life to intangible human emotions imagined from scratch. While each collection takes its own route, a consistent theme runs through them all – an infusion of India, the cosmos, and mythology, particularly drawing inspiration from the majestic Lord Shiva. In our creative process, we carefully sketch out ideas with as much attention to detail as possible. Choosing materials is like picking the right words for a story. To minimise waste, we translate each design into a 3D model before the skilled hands of our artisans transform the 2D/3D developments into tangible jewellery. Each piece becomes a wearable narrative, seamlessly intertwining cultural elements, cosmic beauty, and my personal journey.
Can you tell us about your latest collection, ‘Bageecha’?
‘Bageecha' is about a girl bravely exploring the garden after dark. The moon and stars shine gently, giving the collection a festive feel. Crafted by our skilled artisans using eco brass, each piece is like a little story. Decorated with freshwater pearls and a touch of sparkle from Swarovski, these pieces capture the beauty of the night. In those rare quiet moments, the girl discovers a special peace, trusting in life and hoping to see a shooting star in the night sky. Even though these moments don't happen often, they tell the story of a girl who's not scared of the dark.
To date, what is your favourite piece of jewellery from your oeuvre?
That’s a tough one. I don’t think I can choose just one. But I’m super excited to launch our new hair bun - it’s created with eco brass and algae beads - it’s 100% biodegradable, algae keeps regenerating, making it the perfect choice for our upcoming collection, and you can insert real flowers in this piece too.
What hope do you have for customers who adorn your jewellery?
To stay true to who they are; fashion is, has been, and always will be a mirror to society, and what we wear should represent our authentic selves rather than being dictated by fleeting trends.
What lies ahead for you?
Our upcoming collection ‘Lola & Koki’ comes out in February ’24. It reflects the strength of Sindhi culture, inspired by its resilience through history. It features unique algae beads created in collaboration with a bio-material designer Aradhita Parasampuria. The reason for the use of algae is because it is a renewable resource that aligns with our eco-conscious values. Crafted with eco brass and a gold finish, the pieces honour the Sindhi cultural affinity for gold. These jewels serve as talismans, in many ways connecting me to my real but imagined culture and fostering appreciation for Sindh and nature-derived materials.
Words Devyani Verma
Date 28.01.2024