Who Designs Your Luxury? Reclaiming Adornment in a World Where Women Still Wear Male-Designed Jewellery
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Have you ever stopped to ask — who gets to decide what luxury means?
Reclaiming Adornment from the Male Gaze
Much of what we call luxury Indian jewellery today is rooted in traditions defined not by comfort or creativity, but by patriarchal expectations. For centuries, women’s jewellery has been designed for performance — dazzling displays of status, wealth, and tradition — not for the woman herself.
Too often, men design jewellery for women to wear — often imagining us as brides, dancers, or decorative figures in someone else’s fantasy. We’re taught to aspire to goddess-like beauty, to match sets, to sparkle for the sake of it. But what if we imagined something different?
The Problem Isn’t Jewellery — It’s Who Designs It
The issue isn’t with adornment itself. It’s with the way it's been shaped by a culture that often sees a woman’s beauty as something to be displayed, not expressed. As this UNESCO heritage article reminds us, adornment has long been part of human storytelling — but in many traditions, it's also been a tool of control.
Jewellery designed under the male gaze too often prioritises:
Symmetry over soul
Opulence over comfort
Fantasy over function
Women Designing for Women: A Radical Act
Imagine instead: jewellery made with a woman’s comfort, rhythm, and real life in mind. Jewellery that shifts with your body, adapts to your mood, and feels like an extension of your story — not a costume.
As one of the few South Asian women handcrafting one-of-a-kind jewellery in the UK, I’m part of a small but growing circle reimagining what luxury Indian jewellery can mean. And I'm not alone — as this Business of Fashion piece highlights, more women are reclaiming design roles in fashion, challenging traditional hierarchies and aesthetics.
This is Conscious Adornment. This is Feminine Luxury.
For me, feminine design is:
- Rooted in storytelling
- Inspired by comfort and sustainability
- Made by human hands, not hidden factories
- Open to softness, strength, and transformation
And at the centre of it all? The deep desire to have every woman realise… she is exactly the way she is meant to be.
If we are going to wear jewellery, let it be ours.
Let it be luxury that feels like truth — not tradition bound in expectation.
Further Reading: Why I Choose Beads Over Gemstones
Not all materials are equal when it comes to ethical adornment. Read how seed beads offer a gentler, more sustainable form of luxury.
Or learn more about the wider industry through Beads.co's article on sustainability in beadmaking.
Ready to Wear Jewellery That Feels Like You?
At Mayaani, every piece is consciously handcrafted by me — a woman designing for women, with soul, with intention, with love.
Whether you're a bride seeking comfort or someone who’s simply tired of jewellery that feels like performance, explore pieces made to honour your story.
Because your jewellery should always be more than just an afterthought!
With Love,
Megha Mundandishe
Founder & Maker, Mayaani Jewellery