Summer Sourcing

For some of you Spring might have just begun, but its scorching here. Last week I had been to Delhi, for my annual sourcing trip, which I undertook in the middle of the semester as I didnt want to be burnt alive there…but the days I went out were really hot. Regardless of that it was great.
One of my teachers used to say that – “you might have a local convenience store to pick up your craft supplies but there is nothing like going to old wholesale markets for designers to get their true inspiration”. I never really understood it till I first went to Kinari Bazar in 2008. The kind of jewelry making supplies and beads just astounded me and they draw me back to them year after year. I mean here’s the place where designers all over India and a lot of them from around the world, source. You bump into them at a store, sometimes exchange notes, sometimes quietly observe how they choose and what they buy and try and figure out the ideas that could make it big the coming season.
After roaming through Kinari Bazar, Turkman gate, Pahadi, Nayi sarak and Dariba Kalan here are some observations I made with respect to jewelry.
1) The abundance of stones, crystal chains and flat crystals – anybody who’s studies a wee bit of marketing knows that abundance of a material is both good and bad news. On one hand it means that the products have reached their peak and are about to decline and hence the future fashion quotient is very less. On the other hand low prices lead to innovation and new opportunities for DIY which is good for designers and bloggers like us.
Needless to say you’ll see a lot of bling in my work in the coming months.
2) Huge variety of machine made chains – it means that chains are going to be in for a longer time that expected and is a good direction.
3) Old techniques on new materials – I must say that this nail polish coasting trend has really caught on that bead makers are looking at it sincerely. Acrylic and metal beads now enamelled with colours that have the translucency and shine of nail paint is now available.
4) Resin – Resin beads and stones (again) were aplenty. Dichroic ones are my latest craze. But the non availability of casting resin (clear) was a big let down. If anyone knows where it is available locally please do mail/comment/inform me.
5) New Finishes – Move away gold, silver, antique and dull, the new finishes likes rosy brass, and orangeish copper are here. Oh what fun!!

After a couple of days of marathon shopping I now realise that I need more materials…like…ahem..beads!! I know 😛 so off to the local stores of course 😛

And then…time for an announcement…tadaha ta da…….drum roll..Finally after 3.5 years Sayuri now has a “TM” symbol and I hope and pray that the TM will become a R soon 🙂 🙂
So here’s to another great year of Jewelry making
Cheers

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