Sonam Kapoor leads GJEPC’s seventh Artisan Awards

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council held its seventh Artisan Awards to celebrate talent in India’s jewellery industry with a ceremony. Actress Sonam Kapoor presented awards to the winning designers including Aparna Kesarkar and Yamini Devasree. 

“I am proud to be a part of the jewellery industry, which showcases India’s excellence in design and craftsmanship to the world,” said Sonam Kapoor in a press release. “The Artisan Awards is a great initiative by the GJEPC to nurture and celebrate young talent, who are pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. I believe that jewellery is not just an accessory, but an art form that expresses one’s personality and style. I admire the Indian designers who create stunning pieces that blend tradition & modernity and inspire women to experiment with different forms and colours. For me, the artistic value of a jewellery piece is more than the material value, and that is what makes it truly precious.”
 
The event was powered by the GIA and challenged designers to use unusual materials to create innovative jewellery. Aparna Kesarkar was awarded first place in the ‘Unusual Materials’ category for a pair of cufflinks manufactured by Laxmi Dia Jewel Private Limited and Ahalya Vijayakumar and Dipali Ghadigaonkar were named as the first and second runner up respectively. Yamini Devasree won first place in the category  ‘Objet Trouvé’ (Found Objects) with earrings manufactured by VBJ with Rashmi Kaushik and Vijay Indulkar named as first and second runner up. 

“The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards, now in its seventh edition, stands as a beacon for creative expression in the jewellery design realm,” said GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah. “It offers a coveted platform for talented individuals to unleash their creativity and showcase their innovative designs. Each year, this competition brings forth exclusive, never-seen-before masterpieces that underscore the boundless innovation within our industry. This this competition, our aim is to redefine the landscape of jewellery design and elevate India as a premier design centre. Aligned with the government’s Make in India campaign, The Artisan Awards reinforces GJEPC’s dedication positioning India as a leader in design innovation.”