Nepalese designer Kajal Naina on building her eponymous jewellery brand in Hong Kong
The founder and owner of Kajal Naina Jewellery talks about her upbringing in Nepal and how it inspired the way she creates“When we say new innovations, they are usually just the combination of two old things in a way that isn’t known to have been seen before,” says Kajal Naina. “That’s what’s important to me – to be able to imagine and bring about that metamorphosis.”
Known for its unique and meaningful designs that transcend borders, Naina’s eponymous homegrown jewellery brand aims to speak to women and connect with them deeply. Although established just three short years ago, Kajal Naina has already made waves in the e-commerce world, as well as garnering attention locally.
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“If someone had told me just 10 years ago that I would be an artist and designer, I wouldn’t have believed them,” says Naina. “I trained and worked as a dentist and was happy with where I was professionally.” However, things took a turn and with time, the jewellery maker found herself itching to fulfil her creative side.
When setting up her brand, Naina took a step back to explore her own culture and upbringing in Nepal. “People in Nepal highly appreciate jewellery and most women, irrespective of their social standing, want to own at least one piece of gold ornament,” she says. “In the eyes of the Nepalese, nothing shines brighter than gold.”
Inspired by the women around her so proud and full of love for their jewellery pieces, Naina crafted collection after collection. Whilst working, she recalled fond memories of childhood moments spent admiring and listening to the stories of the jewellery pieces in her mother’s jewellery box. She wanted to recreate this nostalgic feeling in her own designs.
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This year, she was set to start retailing some of her jewellery in stores, but due to the global pandemic, the process has been halted for the time being. Far from discouraged, however, the designer turned her attention to developing and crafting silk scarves. The new items will soon be launched on her website.
“Jewellery making is a way of storytelling for me,” says Naina. “As such, Kajal Naina will always continue in its mission to bring to life jewellery that connects the wearer with their stories, their hopes and their dreams.”
You can find Kajal’s award-winning jewellery collections online at kajalnaina.com
