Strings attached

The statement necklaces are made of two silver threads interlinked at the back with oversize,exaggerated pendants. The pendants made in leather contains thread and beadwork twisted into the forms of the Taj Mahal Hotel and a montage of peace symbols like white roses,candles,sea lions and the Indian flag in taffeta silk. The pendants are also embossed with a sprinkling of Swarovski crystals.

“I took computer images of these figures,modified them and used them to embroider the pendants,” says the 29-year-old designer. “My working principle is that I can create whatever I can imagine.”

A NIFT-Delhi graduate,Mittal was one of the first hires at designer Gayatri Khanna’s office. She worked as the Senior Associate Designer for Khanna for over three years before setting up shop herself. She has also managed five-city fashion shows for German car major Mercedes for the Mercedes Benz Golf Trophy and designed garments and accessories for Guess Watches’ launch of its Guess Collection line in 2008.

“When 26/11 happened,I was working at my office at Kemps Corner,” says Mittal. “I left early for Bandra to have dinner with a friend. When I got home and saw the news reports of the siege,I could only thank my lucky stars that I’d left town early that day.”

Mittal had made a statement necklace for herself. Once when she went out wearing it,it drew appreciation from many friends and acquaintances. Due to increasing popular demand she started making replicas for close friends and later started selling them under the name Forever Bombay.

“The Forever Bombay necklaces were the starting point of my love of statement necklaces. I love wearing necklaces myself and the oversize,embellished look of statement necklaces fit perfectly into my own style statement,” says Mittal.

As they’re special edition pieces she’s only making them on order. Mittal works from her studio at Bandra. Each necklace costs Rs 2,400.

For orders,call 98 198 47794.