Clustered cultured pearls strung on comfortable elastic are an easy go-to accessory that complements any metal or gemstone. In China, where these are made, pearls are the playthings of dragons, a symbol of prosperity and protection.
For more than 30 years, designer Sudha Pennathur has been merging old world craftsmanship with modern production techniques and east-meets-west styling.
She has developed a network of master craftspeople in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, and China. By meeting and getting to know local artists, she was able to build collaborative relationships with those who were the most dedicated to their craft. She encouraged them to establish studios and train others, and by creating designs that she knew would appeal to western tastes, she was able to provide a steady supply of orders that helped keep everyone in business.
Many of us at Petalura have worked with Sudha for years, and we hope you’ll appreciate the authenticity and soul embodied in each of her designs as much as we do.
Jewelry from internationally respected workshops in Jaipur, India, and Bali, Indonesia, reflects cultural tradition as well as contemporary style.
Indian embroidery styles like zardozi, chikankari, kantha, and shisha mirrorwork are just as stunning when used to embellish Christmas ornaments as they are on silk saris or the Rajasthani door hangings called torans.
Some of the most skilled block-printers in the world execute Sudha’s designs for bedding and home decor. Printed in northern India workshops, they are taken by camel across the desert to be finished before moving along to Delhi for a final quality check and shipment to US retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, National Geographic, Neiman Marcus, and, of course, Petalura.
