At Aarika, we blend timeless elegance with exceptional art to create exquisite handmade jewelry that celebrates both tradition and craftmanship. Our pieces are designed to not only adorn but also tell a story, capturing the essence of beauty and heritage.
We believe in slow fashion. It emphasizes quality over quantity and sustainability over waste. In a world of mass production, handmade is an act of rebellion. We invite everyone to slow down and cherish the jewelry that is meticulously crafted by the artisans who infuse their expertise and dedication into each detail. We put a lot of thought into handcrafting each piece with utmost care, dedication and love. We believe that a piece of jewelry should not just adorn your body but capture your spirit as well! It’s amazing how things handcrafted with love, exude a sublime vibe that resonates with you. You can actually feel it when you touch the jewellery! It’s like having a meaningful conversation with a happy artisan who hand crafted the piece for you.
After all, ”Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”- Vincent Van Gogh.
THESE ARE OUR CORE PRINCIPLES:
• Ethical Production: We nurture relationships and choose humanity over machinery. We ensure that our jewellery is produced under fair labour practices, with fair wages and safe and flexible working conditions for all involved in the supply chain. We provide dignified and sustainable livelihoods to all our artisans.
• Sustainable materials: We use eco-friendly materials such as jute threads, recycled fabric, organic cotton, Coconut husk, news-papers and cork boxes.
• Transparency: We are tranparent about the origins and the process involved in the jewelry production, allowing consumers to make informed choices.
• Local Manufacturing: We have a very short supply chain, which means a reduced carbon footprint. We support the local artisans and thus reduce our carbon footprint associated with long distance transportation.
• Timeless Design: We create jewelry that transcends seasonal trends and can be worn across multiple years, thus encouraging consumers to buy less frequently. We produce in small batches avoiding over production, which ensures there is less wastage
• Social Consciousness: We believe in empowering women, who are integral to our success. We work towards giving sustainable fashion a space in your jewelry box. We believe in always giving back toojur artisan communities.
• No Child Labour: Ever since fast Fashion has become a trend, child labour is rampant in the industry. At Aarika we believe that children are the future and we do not believe in jeoprodsing it by employing little hands and minds that should be working on educating and equipping themselves for it.
Most of our temple motifs are sourced from a small town in Andhra Pradesh! Their work ethics resonate with ours! The craftsmen there are hardrworking farmers who work on the jewelry at times that they can spare from their fields. It gives them an additional source of income for the family! They are very short staffed during the harvest season as the entire team is busy on their farms!
In the fast-changing world today, we nurture relationships and choose humanity over machinery. Creating with our own hands connects us to the heartbeat of the universe. When you buy from us you are helping our artisans fulfil their small dreams!
Each time you wear Aarika, remember the happy smiles that you have put on their faces and those of their families. Your support helps us in creating more job opportunities for the craftsmen and help them live better and more meaningful lives. Each piece bears the stamp of countless hours of intricate and labour-intensive craftsmanship of the hands that make.
"It isn't enough to look for quality in the products we buy, we must also ensure quality in the lives of the people who make them"- Orsola de Castro.
At Aarika, we
• Ensure that our jewellery is produced under fair labour practices, with fair wages and safe and flexible working conditions for all involved in the supply chain.
• Encourage our artisans to use their own creativity.
• Provide them with dignified work where their voices are heard.
• Give them options to participate in workshops and other training programmes.
FAIR WAGES
Every low price has a human cost. We are transparent about prices, because we believe that by understanding what composes the true cost of a product, you can better understand how a small company like ours operates. Whenever you buy from us, you are adding meaning to the lives of the artisans who make your jewellery, instead of buying cheap machine-made alternates, that are just going to add to the landfill after one time wear. We pay all our artisans fair wages above the established norm. Income generated from every product you buy, helps us reinvest back into the artisan communities.
Since handmade craft is extremely labour intensive and the supply chain is completely transparent and sustainable, it’s hard for small businesses to slash prices to match their counterparts. We focus on making high quality products that forge relationships with clients, who recommend us and come back. We believe consumers have the power to create change, by demanding ethically made products.