 They don’t quite match up to the sparkle of a diamond or the snobbery of platinum. But here’s a new option to make you stand out at a monsoon bash : Garden fresh flower jewellery.
At Amrish Pershad’s workshop in Delhi, it can get frosty while preparing real flower jewellery. "We maintain a temperature of 10-15 degrees celsius. As the water content is low in cut flowers, the tips easily turn black," explains the 34-year-old who caters to an elite client list.
What began as an experiment during his sister’s wedding, is now getting him 35-40 orders every wedding season. His team of 35 can shell out necklaces, chokers, brooches and waistbands in an hour’s time from fresh-cut flowers.
"Floral ornaments are a style statement," says Pershad, who mixes chunks of flowers with Swarovski and coloured beads, and charges upwards of
$500 for his effort.
"Brides prefer real flower jewellery at the mehndi ceremony," he says. Even children like coloured flowers. "At a birthday party recently, boys wore wooden bracelets while the girls flaunted the Hawaiian look," he muses.
He also tried his hand at artificial flower designs. "For summers, orchid and carnations work best. But with a longer shelf life, crystal berries, Olive and Cosmos willows make for a beautiful set," says Pershad. So the next time you set out for a party, the flower shop next door can prove helpful in more ways than one. |
