Degree / Diploma in Jewellery Design @ SNDTWU: July 2015

Tuesday, 28 July 2015

OUR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA -SENIOR MANAGER /HEAD- PRODUCT DEVELOMPMENT

Shalaka Paralkar Koulage

SENIOR MANAGER/HEAD - PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT(DOMESTIC)/ OWNER OF JEWELLERY STORE

Armed with professional course in Jewellery Design and Manufacture from Premlila Vithaldas Polytechnic , SNDT Women's University (2003),Mumbai , after an initial training period at Jewellery Solutions, I joined the Gitanjali group. This was a period of continuous learning and growth ,leading to me heading their domestic Designing team as well as their Product Development team for all the Domestic brands of Gitanjali, which includes:

Nakshatra, Asmi, D’damas, Lucera, Sangini, Diya, Giantti, Maya, Parineeta, Me Jewels, Me Solitaire and also several small sub brands.

My 11 years experience not only gave me an in depth understanding of various markets and exposed me to a wide clientele with their diverse needs, but also resulted in strengthening and expanding my knowledge of new techniques in jewellery.

Currently, heading the Product Development & designing team of Gitanjali Group for all the Domestic factories, I still felt like something was missing. Gradually within me grew a passionate desire to unleash my creativity by designing and creating something new and different and thus my brand, “ Iksha – Fusion Jewellery ” was born .

Positive responses to my initial efforts in the form of small exhibitions were encouraging and spurred me to have a place of my own for displaying my collections, facilitate relaxed browsing and selection by clients and also a personal connect .

Thus in June 2014, I started my flagship store at Khar, Mumbai, catering primarily to niche clients , personally connecting with them and understanding their needs and developing my collections in tune with this. Enriched with this experience, I now look forward to diversifying into various different formats of business.