Everything about Seema Mehta, the creative director of the iconic jewellery brand has its roots in art. Even her decision to become the creative director of the family business was made around it. “I was always into the artistic field. I am a Kathak dancer, and I was into painting and sculptures as well. Also, I wanted to be part of my family business, and becoming the creative director was the natural choice for me,” explains Seema Mehta.
Without a doubt, her artistic background heavily influences her designs. “When I learnt drawing, I learnt more about aesthetics and compositions. That affects the detailing in my designs,” says the Fine Arts graduate from Academy of Art College in San Francisco, California.
Hailing from a family of hard workers, Seema Mehta’s schedule is always tight. However, she sticks to a routine that has space for work as well as her art. When asked about her daily routine, she laughs, “I wake up and I work out or practice dance. My afternoons are spent on jewellery-related work. I work on my designs or attend meetings with our designers. Evenings, I take classes.”
Her earlier collaboration with the renowned designer Rohit Bal, turned a lot of heads, and was much spoken about. Seema terms it as ‘wonderful experience’. “I have always liked his work for the perfection and finesse. He always brings the old- school elegance and classiness to his works. Undoubtedly, he is one of the biggest designers in the nation, and he is my favourite too.”
The combination of Western upbringing, and the liking for traditional designs is apparent in her works, and she claims that people are always game for such innovative designs. “I find that there are a lot of takers for modern designs in Tamil Nadu and the southern part of the nation. People are more open to innovation,” she elaborates.
Seema is also the founder of the Chhandam School of Kathak in in Mumbai. “My dance school will celebrate its seventh year anniversary in April. And it is something I’ve always wanted to do since I love kids, and love teaching them. I also want to take the teachings of my guruji Pandit Chitresh Das forward,” she says. When asked if she would like to be known as a designer or a dancer, she says, “Both my careers complement each other. I can’t choose something over the other. I am in a happy space now.”
