Gayeholud ribbon jewellery

There is saying in the teaching community that goes like this “The more time you give students to complete their work, the less productive they get; so might as well give them a sharp deadline” Why? because they are going to do it only at the last possible moment. Of late, I have come to realise that this holds true for people in general and not just students. Case in point, this post which I was supposed to write a month back.
 In January when I was knee deep in work, I got a message asking for an urgent set for a Gaye holud ceremony that was bright and colorful and to be shipped in less than a week’s time. I seldom take assignments with a very short lead time as managing the logistics of sourcing and shipping can be very stressful even if you can get the product done fast. But this time, I did.

Gaye Holud ribbon jewellery


The only way I could do it in the given time frame was by using premade ribbon flowers. We agreed to use colors like red, lemon yellow and green along with gold accents to match with a simple Daccai cotton saree – yellow with a green border. We brainstormed on a lot of different design ideas where the Pinterest board that I have on Bridal Flower jewellery came in quite handy. You can find the inspiration for this particular set here.

Some designs take a lot of experimentation and a lot of time to figure out how exactly it can be put together and some are very simple that you can figure it out all in your head, even before you pick up a single tool or supply. This entire Gayeholud ribbon jewellery set belongs to the second category. As soon as I bought the materials I realized how I would put it together and once I started working it got done within 3-4 hours. I just had to make a few measurement corrections the next day and add one more piece to the set – the choker. Overall it was quite breezy to make it. But that is when the self-doubt started. 
Gayeholud ribbon jewellery

I was raised with the belief that if something goes off very smoothly or that it is too good to be true, it probably isn’t. So after making the first necklace, I got thinking – is it good? Is it wearable? Is it too bright? Is it too shiny? I have never seen anybody wear anything like it before (only seen ornaments created like this for deities) let alone make something like it. Panic! Panic!

 Red, yellow and green is a very traditional Indian color combination, something that I have managed to stay away from, for all my teen and adult life. Personally, I am more of a deeps and darks kind of girl so I found this colour combination along with gold a little too bold. But my design training has taught how that in order to expand your repertoire of designs, you need to step out of your comfort zone. So I did what I normally do to boost up my confidence, research! 
Gaye Holud ribbon jewellery

I read up on traditional Bangla ornaments – their names, forms and usage. I read up on Gaye holud practices and traditions, the colors, materials and textured they used and what they meant.I read that, traditionally, not just the bride but also her attendants (friends) and close family also wear red, green, and yellow colors as they symbolize purity, sanctity, fertility, prosperity, piety and strength. During the wedding, A bengali bride wear ornaments like Cheek – Choker, Taira/Tikli – Forehead ornament, Ratnachur – Haath phool (slave bracelet), shakha-Paul baala- coral and counch shell bangles, and kaan pasha – ear studs or kaan bala – earrings (bangle for the ear). 

A Screenshot from the 2003 Movie Choker Bali, where Aishwariya Rai is seen dressed up as a Bengali Bride

 Still I was left with a nagging doubt. I have only seen Bengali brides wear a tight forehead ornament (Taira- Tikle) and a Crown (mukut made of Sholapith) on the head and never a multi strand directional headpiece like what I made. On further research (and using a little bit of common sense) I figured out that this could have been the traditional style and the Taira could been a British influence as it is used to hold down the veil (orna) which is thin tulle, very different from the thick Odhnis that Brides of North and west India wear but similar to the veils of the 18th-19th century English women.

In between my research, I tried the pieces on to check for fit and for an impromptu selfie. Ok I did put on a little lipstick, eyeliner and draped my mother’s saree and took a few pics. I looked so different – like some yesteryear Maharani or Zamindarini that I started experimenting with the filters, wondering how I would look If I was dressed up like this 90, 60, or 40 years ago. I could imagine myself in a carved wooden haveli, all dressed up, waiting for an all important photographer to come take a portrait picture. Another five minutes of my life spent imagining myself as a princess and coming to the conclusion that the pieces indeed looked good. 

Thus with all my fears put to rest, I completed the Gayeholud ribbon jewellery set. This set is made of gold gota and ribbon roses in red, yellow and green contains a long mala – necklace in tie up style, a beaded choker, round dangling disc earrings, armlets, head ornament and haath phool (slave bracelet and ring). The bride loved it and sent a message saying 

I can’t thank you enough.. You have built a relationship now and I will suggest all my friends to get their gaye holud jewelry from you. Thank you so much.”

Well if that isnt enough, I dont know what is! Overall it was a very fulfilling process to create a Gayeholud ribbon jewellery set and I must really thank Sowmya for trusting me and giving me this opportunity to be a part of her wedding. It gave me a chance to get out of my comfort zone and learn something new. It enriched me as a designer and as a person so thanks to her for that. 
 

Information sources
 Wiseshe
Elegant Eves

I hope you found it interesting
 Cheers

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  1. Michelle L. avatar

    Ooooh, wow, the photos with the filters are incredible! The pieces look amazing on you and I love the changing impression with each filter. Very cool post, Divya!

  2. bairozan avatar

    The jewelry set is irresistible! I am a procrastinator and criticize myself for that a lot but it certainly leads to great ideas sometimes 🙂 I, too, try to avoid popular color combos but have to admit they secure a solid and beautiful result. Cool idea with the pictures, indeed!

  3. Divya N avatar

    I looked so different in that headdress and it really amused my dad to see me like that 🙂 🙂 I am really liking sepia tones and black and white for pictures these days; they bring out textures and details so well

  4. Cinnamon Jewellery avatar

    It's beautiful, you look fab wearing the pieces!
    I've had custom orders where I've been asked to make things I wouldn't normally do and I usually thoroughly enjoy making them as it's a nice change plus it's expanding my experience in a way.

  5. Divya N avatar

    Thanks Tracy for your lovely compliments. When we are asked to make things that challenge our aesthetics, our comfort zone it is quite a learning experience

  6. Divya N avatar

    Thanks Rozantia, I enjoyed playing around with the photo editing app and dreaming up exotic settings 🙂 I ended up liking the color combo by the time I finished this set that I made another longer necklace but for a deity

  7. Little Treasures avatar

    Your set turned out great! And the photos too!
    I am currently in a mood where I feel and believe I should stop taking up custom orders. What stops me from doing it, is that I am always inadvertently inspired by such orders for some future projects that become incredibly successful.

  8. Divya N avatar

    Yes custom orders can get repetitive and once we find success in that, we might not feel like experimenting. Exactly the same thing is happening with me – I still haven't made my collection for this year. But hey, its atleast successful right?

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