The Art of Design Issue 28 2017 | Page 210

PATRICIA BATEMAN QUESTIONS THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS AND SPIRITUALITY IN LUXURY WITH PIONEERING JEWELLERY CREATOR HARAKH MEHTA. 1. If you were to describe your brand in so special. People from all across the globe a sentence to someone who didn’t travel to India in the quest to find their inner ethical sourcing and production of know it, what would you say? self and connect with their soul your jewellery? H: Luxury inspired by India, the land of celebration and spirituality 2. 3. 4. Can you tell us how you ensure How does that spiritual connect H: This is a subject that is very dear to come across in your jewellery? us. We were the first Indian jewellery manufacturer to be certified by the What is it about India, for you that H: I think of spirituality as looking beyond make it such a spiritual place? Responsible Jewellery Council in the surface and seeking a more meaningful accordance with their 2013 Code of purpose of all facets of life. I believe there Practices. H: Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Whatever are two levels to this, one is what is obvious else India may not be, she is at least one and right in front of you and the other is The Councils mandate is to ensure that the thing. She is the greatest storehouse of a far deeper level where I try to see what mines from which members source their spiritual knowledge.” direction my soul is moving towards. gems and metal from are fully regulated and India has been the birthplace of many divine When we create our pieces, we always saints and gurus and has some of the most involved in mining are paid fairly and are accompany them with a light spiritual write comprehensive literature on the subject. protected by the highest safety, working and up based on my interpretation of the design environment standards. It’s not just that; it’s the faith and beliefs of its people coupled with their discipline and lifestyle to adhere to the same that make it controlled to ensure that the communities or the piece, which will gently nudge the wearer to ponder on some of the deeper I personally sit on the Council’s issues of life! communication committee and fully