Aditi Rao Hydari reveals her take on her association with Zoya, style quotient and more during the launch of Zoya boutique in Gurugram
· What is Zoya for you?
For me Zoya is a celebration of the self.. Its minimal, intricate, and effortless. That’s a style I relate to a lot. Even their store is beautiful and so very artistic, just like their jewellery. There’s so much detail! You are surrounded by stories that celebrate women, in the form of jewellery. The environment of warm luxury, with friendly, attentive service, makes it feel like your own intimate space, to enjoy time for yourself, dream and you could actually create an heirloom that is uniquely yours. That’s what I find so special about Zoya as a brand and the space …that they have created to allow people to do that for themselves.
· Are you a jewelry person? Have you always loved jewellery?
I love jewellery, and I’m very selective, about what I like and what I pick. I love our tradition and culture and heritage, but I’ve also travelled a lot and have been brought up to be very expansive in my thought. So I like jewellery that tells a story. When a piece of jewellery speaks to you, and you wear it and it makes you feel special, then it’s no small thing. It really becomes art that you can wear. It builds a personal connection.
· What is your most treasured piece of jewellery?
My first piece of jewellery was given to me by my grandfather, when I was a child. It was very special, because it belonged to his mother and maybe even her mother before that. It was a bracelet and he had it resized for me, and it meant a lot. When I started working, I bought a pair of diamond earrings for my mother. That was the first piece of jewellery I bought.
· If you had to pick a piece of jewellery as a gift for someone special- what would you choose and for who?
When I walked into the Zoya store my eye went straight to these stunning emerald earrings and a ring. It’s from a collection of Zoya called Hollywood Boulevard! I didn’t even know that at the point. But I think I would like to buy those for my mother. And I think if she didn’t wear them, I would!
· What is your advice to a millennial who is buying her first piece of jewellery?
Diamonds are timeless and eternal. And anything that is timeless and eternal has value. So if you like the piece of jewellery and you can afford it, and it makes you happy – then go for it!
· Your reaction to the Zoya store:
I love shopping in person at a store and having someone friendly there you can talk to makes it really nice, which is what I like most about Zoya. The team is so warm. When I walked in I found that there was detail and artistry in every corner of the store. I can see the amount of thought and love that has gone into creating it. So, I can imagine that people will come here and spend a lot of time here.