Meet Mitaali Nanda Vohra | Jewelry Designer & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitaali Nanda Vohra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitaali, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am the second-generation of a renowned jewelry house in India, that has dedicated 25 years to reviving beautiful Indian artifacts seen as far as the era of the ‘Maharaja’ (Royalty) dynasties. One of the driving factors in finding my feet in the business, was to come up with affordable, every day fashion that celebrated rich Indian heritage with a contemporary modern-world aesthetic. It was also imperative for me to keep service and direct-to-consumer retail at the core of the brand’s value – something more magnanimous than myself, motivating me to grow the business. I believe personal touch goes a long way as far as luxury is concerned. A lot of this business is based on trust and a feeling of belonging. I recognized that there are a lot of places one could go to procure a beautiful piece of jewelry, but how one feels while buying it is what makes the purchase extremely special. This is when I thought of starting a luxury concierge service for designer jewels using my flair for fashion and understanding of jewelry. The concierge service, is a vertical integration of the mother brand, and lends itself to – knowing your client and their requirements, customizations, helping them style the products and delivering a satisfying retail experience till the very end. This could be for a client searching for a $500 gift or even a groom looking for a $25000 ring for his bride-to-be, the attention to detail is equal for both. I strive to maintain a creative balance while developing personal relationships with each client, breaking the distant, commercialized bubble most sought after designers have propagated. The brand has always kept CSR at the core of its activities, from supporting NGO’s and their causes to bringing awareness to the workmanship behind each design. An average of 17 to 20 trunk shows in the United States and worldwide, along with designer meet and greets, ensure that we are able to reach a diverse population while keeping community at the heart of the business ethos.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The journey of this art, started in 1993, when my mother stumbled upon an image of ’Thewa’ – an artform, at the back of a Coffee Table Book. This was a 400 – year old Dying Art Form which presented a fusion of filigree gold work on glass. Next her research for the art form led her to the interiors of Rajasthan (India), where the art existed at a very basic level, almost extinct and lacking patronage. She decided to make commitment to the art form. What followed was a single handed Revival of this beautiful Art, from a Dying Art, to a much acclaimed and sought after fashion statement which made our designs rightfully earn the worldwide title of ‘Revivalist Couture Jewelry’. Today, we are especially known for giving a contemporary spin to Traditional Art Forms to suit the contemporary taste. Amongst the many barriers we have surmounted on this journey, was to convince a patriarchal set of Artisans to conform to a woman’s vision, alongside paucity of funds.
The next step was creating awareness and building a market for the Art Form, by relentlessly travelling to cities across the country to bring the product to the people. I have been instrumental in creating awareness for the art across the United States, which has only helped grow its value on a global scale. My efforts in this direction have successfully created tremendous awareness for the Art Form, however not resting on these laurels our brand and it’s team has ensured the Art received international exposure through showcases across continents. Worldwide our creations have been spotted on the red carpet amidst glitz and glamour of icons like Elizabeth Hurley and Janet Jackson, as well as grandeur of modern day Royalties.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to my favorite coffee shop ‘Via Quadronno’ on the Upper East Side for cappuccinos and the best gelato in the city! Followed by a nice, early dinner by the pool at Soho House. As part of the checklist for the week, we would definitely tick off Wollman Rink at Central Park, an exhibit at Christie’s, margaritas and jazz at The Carlyle , Bemelman’s Bar, high tea at The Whitby Hotel, a walk by Diamond District to take in the buzz, Chicken and rice on 53 rd, Pizzas at my favorite Restaraunt ‘Marta’, a Broadway musical, my favorite bookstore McNally Jackson, a trip to St. Patrick’s Church and some retail therapy followed by a manicure at Saks Fifth Avenue. The list can go on!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every part of my journey is a celebration of design. Design is what drives me to create and I was introduced to this connection to creativity through the endeavors of my mother, who painstakingly started this business all by herself two decades ago. She fell in love with art and there was no looking back. Our biggest motivation is the ability to innovate and create authentic design through inspired action, at our studios!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mitaali.nanda.vohra?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==