Suhani Pittie

Recently enlisted by the WORLD GOLD COUNCIL AS THE TOP 10 MOST INVENTIVE AND INGENIOUS JEWELLERY DEISIGNERS IN THE WORLD, this graduate from the Gemological Institute of America established her own training institute at the age of twenty and is a recipient of the 'Singem Award for Excellence' in the field of gemology.She has been listed amongst the top few in the lists 'Top 10 Women to Watch Out For' and '30 Rising Stars of the Country' by Elle magazine and as the top three accessory designers of the country by Vogue, India. More recently, London's edgy publication TANK chose to feature Suhani Pittie, as one of the most recognised high fashion jewellery and silverware designers from India. Suhani has also been enlisted as one of the 50 youth icons of Andhra Pradesh by Passionate Foundation.

Suhani has been a columnist with Deccan Chronicle, The Telegraph and Indian Express and was invited to be a guest speaker on metals and jewellery at the prestigious event of the World Crafts Council, "Abhushan 2011". She has represented India as the first jewellery designer at the Miami Fashion Week. The Museum of Arts and Design subsequently commissioned her work.

A finalist at the 'Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award '09' held by the British Council, Suhani was handpicked to showcase her collections to an exclusive audience comprising of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Maharaja Gaj Singh Ji at the Bal Samand Lake Palace, Jodhpur.

A regular at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week and Lakme Fashion Week since 2005, Suhai's recent Summer Resort 2010 'Grunge Begum' and Winter Festive 2010 'Free Religion' collections received accolades for their path breaking interpretation in contemporary jewellery.

Suhani Pittie's metier lies in her ability to combine contradictions. Like a magpie she collects impressions, feelings, memories and employs her quirky eye for whimsy, to weave them into striking, statement making jewellery. Kasulaperu coins, carved wood blocks, nawabi insets, could find their canvasses on shackled chains, exposed zipper fabric and copper pipes. Or a chand symbol, temple jewellery and bead work could pay homage to modern steel rivets, brooch pins and wire meshes. The end result is simply her classic yen for mixing simple and serious, vintage and modern, traditional and edgy.

There is one rule to Suhani Pittie. You don't define her and there is no prescribed way to wear her artistry. For her a bead is as venerated as steel, a stone as respected as silver. Every coil of metal or rivet, every turquoise or shell, every tassel or thread tells her story. Her traditional spirit moves you to staying true to your heritage. Her free spirit urges you to combine, contradict with abandon, and to be unapologetically individual.