Bruce Cleaver and Manoj Dwivedi inaugurate IIJS 2016 along with Praveenshankar Pandya and other GJEPC office bearers. IIJS Reinvigorates

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Bruce Cleaver and Manoj Dwivedi inaugurate IIJS 2016 along with Praveenshankar Pandya and other GJEPC office bearers. IIJS Reinvigorates Gem & Jewellery Industry GJEPC & De Beers initiate generic diamond promotion After a lacklustre first half of the year, the gem and jewellery community is relieved that the buying finally recommenced at the 33rd India International Jewellery Show (IIJS). Most exhibitors that Solitaire spoke to said that they could now see the silver lining, even as some doubts persist over excise and GST. 48 solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY Jewellery sales in the last few months have been dismal, which is why expectations prior to the IIJS were low. However, the substantial turnout over five days boosted the sentiments on the show floor. While retailers still have some dead stock in their inventory, they wanted something new for the coming season and bought with care just enough to engage the consumer with innovative design concepts, while keeping a tight leash on their spends. For jewellery retailers and manufacturers across India, there was more reason to cheer at IIJS on the opening day, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and mining major De Beers jointly took the lead in launching the long-awaited generic campaign for diamond jewellery. Design delivers A good design is the soul of a jewellery piece, and at the IIJS, one saw many such collections that highlighted a blend of creative and technical expertise. Exhibitors this time picked up cues and came up with super-light jewellery across the prêt, couture and bridal categories owing to the sluggish pace of the market and the high gold rate. A well-designed collection of cufflinks in silver titled Thee Wild was displayed by Jewels Emporium, Jaipur. Partner Anup Bohra informed that apart from showcasing their avant-garde and one-off Masterstrokes collection, this time they have decided to venture into men s jewellery. The rugged and well-executed line has an element of crystal in each piece. Mansukh Kothari of Vasupati Jewellers, Mumbai, commented that he and his design team had done their homework months in advance and they decided to bring in three new collections in 22-karat gold that are contemporary yet connect to Indian traditional roots. The Zahra line bears blooming gold flowers suspended from textured and plain necklaces. The The dignitaries unveil the IIJS 2016 show catalogue. Sanskriti Jewels solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016 49

Bhindi Manufacturers Launches Nakashi Collection Swarovski along with Bhindi Manufacturers launched a new collection at the IIJS. Sanjay Kothari, past chairman of GJEPC, did the honours. The Nakashi collection crafted by Bhindi Manufacturers is studded with Swarovski s new gemstone Frosty Mint. The 22-karat collection comprises elaborate necklaces that combine intricate nakashi or gold relief work in yellow gold along with textured rose gold elements. The pieces are further accented with Swarovski gemstones. Aavali collection is dominated by multiple rows of gemstones dotted with motifs adorned with South Sea pearls, polkis and emeralds and rubies, and the Samyukta collection consists of traditional antique jewellery adorned with South Sea pearls, khakha motis and more. We have tried to rein in the price points, while not compromising on the design element. Deepak Dholakia, partner, C.V.M. Exports, Junagadh said that they were satisfied with IIJS 2016. We upgraded our inventory and showcased our new concepts to select retailers and they were well appreciated. There is a lot of plagiarism when it comes to jewellery design which is why we were very discreet about displaying our new collections, stated Dholakia. Platinum jewellery at Rosentiques got a touch of colour thanks to fine quality Zambian emeralds. Amish Kothari, director of the firm, has specially designed a limited edition of 10 earrings and rings in platinum set with fancy-cut diamonds and emeralds in various cuts such as pears, cabochons, octagons and carved gems. The earrings are as light as 25 gm to 30 gm, while the range of rings weighs between 15 gm and 20 gm. The retail price of this platinum collection is between R10 lakh and R15 lakh. The confluence of ancient crafts and new technical treatments is bringing in a new genre of fusion jewellery. Vipul Mehta of Laxmi Jewellery Exports presented some exquisite pieces of kundan partaj (engraved) work in bridal sets that married technical excellence with crafts such as filigree, bead work and more. Mehta said, We have tried to reduce the gold weight in every bridal set by around 20-25% even as we have retained bigger, fuller forms. Our collection for the Nazraana brand features diamonds from Rio Tinto and we have enhanced these magnificent choker sets with South Sea pearls and fine enamels. These, too, are getting a very good response at the show. Justin Varkey of Jewel Ace, Jaipur, revealed that their lariats with thewa motifs generated a lot of interest at the show. Another collection that received a good response is the diverse range of cuff links crafted in gold or silver. Priced between R1,500 and R50,000, the cufflinks are adorned with enamel, thewa work, honeycomb structures and antique finish. The cuff links also have hints of tiny emeralds, turquoise, lapis lazuli, rubies, sapphires and more. This category works very well for gifting purposes and customers have placed many orders on day one itself, Varkey noted. The other lines that Jewel Ace got a great response for was the Tamanna collection weighing between 12 gm and 14 gm, consisting of pendant and earring sets ornamented with fine quality pearls. The company also introduced diamond- and gem-studded interchangeable earrings that can be worn in three or four different ways. It can take 50 solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY you from the work place to a party in the evening within seconds. Shah Gems saw a good number of clients from day one itself. Shashwat Shah, partner at the firm, stated, We have reinvented old classic designs that will appeal to the modern woman. Five- and seven-row ladas are extremely popular. Chokers with antique finish and layered with long multi-row necklaces are still going strong. Passas are also popular. D.D. Karel, director of NM Karel & Sons, New Delhi, informed that this time the company had experimented with different surface textures in their 22-karat gold bangles and kadas. The designs are minimalistic yet very arresting with predominant use of twisted gold coils and gold tubes finished with filigree, lace work and enamelling. Other than design, the weight of the piece is the primary factor when buyers make the decision to order jewellery. At Jaipur-based Gem Plaza, one found exquisitely crafted rings, broad bracelets and pendant sets that were laced with a variety of gemstones such as aquamarine, morganite, tanzanite and sliced diamonds. Crafted with globally appealing aesthetics, the jewellery found favour with most buyers from the southern region. Arun Dhaddha, director of Gem Plaza, Jaipur, said, We have played a lot with textures this time. However, big necklace sets are solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016 51

Rosentiques not moving off the shelves. Instead, buyers are opting for a range of jewellery under R2 lakh. Pradeep Jethani of Jet Gems noted that illusion-set baguette and round diamonds in square shapes were in demand apart from detachable multiple rings that could be worn singly or all together. Goldintensive bangles with light, lacy forms or creased textures were favoured. Pink gold is an all-time favourite with consumers this season, he added. Earrings and bracelets are the most popular jewellery categories that buyers are looking at, said Karan Garodia of Sanskriti Jewels. Their floral earrings set with pink and yellow sapphires in briolettes and pears were favoured. Also, their back-to-front earrings and ear crawlers, all fashioned with corals, tanzanites, morganites below R1 lakh were preferred. Most manufacturers agree that buyers want a high design quotient with lower price points. Most of the buyers have cut down their purchases by 30% to 50% as compared to last year, but the average sweet spot for necklace sets is between R5 lakh and R7 lakh, and earrings and rings under R3 lakh. Anything above R15 lakh is moving slowly. In the couture section, Hardik Shah, marketing director of BR Designs, said that the show had been simply amazing! Their new collections designed for Forevermark were appreciated by top retailers from South and West India who booked large orders. The high design element of each of these collections was proving to be a winner for the company. Even our other bridal lines are a hit. We are very happy with the show results. Abhineet Boochra of Silver Centrre informed that they saw good footfalls at the show: We met serious buyers. While retailers from the South preferred our tribal and antique collections, retailers from Kolkata preferred gold-plated silver jewellery particularly for destination weddings. They picked up big necklaces for the festive season. Sudeep Sethi, director of YS18, said his collection of yellow diamond rings and another collection of lightweight pendants and earrings studded with emeralds, 52 solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY tsavorites and sapphires with soft price points did extremely well. We have cleverly set fancy light-yellow diamonds so that they sparkle like intense yellow coloured diamonds. 60% of the collection has already been booked. We met new clients from Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and South India, noted Sethi. Ankit Lodha, director of Gie Gold Creations, introduced the Kashmina collection, which is inspired by Kashmir and the pashmina shawl. Paisley and chinnar leaves along with carved tanzanites and lapis lazuli with blue enamel were incorporated into statement necklaces, large rings and shoulderdusters. From a design perspective, we have done well. The next big thing is storytelling in jewellery and retailers have begun to realise the importance of it. My jewellery is mainly under R4 lakh and the response has exceeded my expectations. Exhibitors who sold studded jewellery also did brisk business. Navratna jewellery is very much in demand, said Rakesh Soni, co-founder of Jasmine Design, Jaipur. Buyers from all over India have placed a lot of orders for our Navratna collection, especially long necklaces. We have also showcased cocktail rings under R3 lakh with large carved or cabochon centre stones with partaj (engraved) shanks and kundan-setting. Less is more Siddhartha Sawansukha of Sawansukha Jewellers said that top retailers visited his booth seeking medium-sized bracelets, earrings and cocktail rings under R4 lakh. Commercial necklaces and very high-end necklaces were in demand. Some visitors also wanted to refurbish their existing inventory to make it more exciting for their consumers. The pacheli bangle (raised floral motifs) did wonders! This year we played around with two-toned yellow and white gold. He also showcased a prêt line crafted in rose gold with marquise and round diamonds. Kapil Bapna, proprietor of Arham Jewellers informed that daily wear necklaces and bangles within the range of 40 gm and 70 gm were fast-moving items. Buying volumes were 40% less compared to last year, but if one compares it to the market demand in the last three months, then it is a positive sign. Bapna met buyers from Maharashtra, Gujarat and southern India. Rishabh Sanghavi of Payal Gold said they had come with very low expectations and were pleasantly surprised by the good response. Some buyers are cautious and are very specific in their demands, while others are opening new showrooms and hence need to stock up on inventory. The more optimistic retailers are buying in anticipation of a good festive season. From a design perspective, we have done well. The next big thing is storytelling in jewellery and retailers have begun to realise the importance of it. My jewellery is mainly under L4 lakh and the response has exceeded my expectations. Vasupati Jewellers N.M. Karel & Sons solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016 53

Laxmi Jewellery Exports Jewel Ace Vishal Zadafiya, marketing manager, Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. said that they received queries for their two new collections, Uphar and Bandhan. Commenting on the loose stone performance, he added that non-certified diamonds above 1 carat were in great demand. Vaishali Srivastava of Lumineux Uno informed that they received a lot of enquiries for the new metal, which is a mix of gold, platinum, palladium and silver. Everyone is looking for a substitute for gold, added Srivastava. Middling demand for loose stones Abhishek Jain, manager of Singhal Gems, Jaipur said that they deal with a variety of Zambian emeralds. The show was not as good as last year, and we have not met many serious buyers. Those who do place orders are doing it as per their requirements. In general, oval, pear, round and emerald cuts are trending. Gems N Jewels of Jaipur are manufacturers of Mozambican rubies. Nitin Golecha, the firm s owner, said that buyers are not evincing much interest in gemstones. Those who visit us are buying medium to bigger size rubies and prefer unheated gems. Only if it doesn t fit their budget do they opt for heated rubies. Extensive ruby promotions have helped in overall sales of this gemstone. Kiran Gems launched the Assure product line of IGI-certified and sealed calibrated diamonds ranging from 20 points to 70 points in packs of 5 carats, 8 carats and 10 carats at the show. Swaroop Biswas, marketing manager of the firm said, Independent retail stores and designers find it difficult to procure standardised diamonds in smaller quantities. This product line is tailor-made for them and has been well-appreciated at the show. Anil Punjabi of Tahilram Tirthdas Jewellers said that tanzanites in all shapes and setting sizes are popular. White sapphires, emerald and ruby beads, and baroque pearls are also hot favourites. We introduced the bi-coloured ametrine stone this year and we have got ample enquiries for it. Karan Jhaveri of Shreeji Jewels noted that buyers came with specific requirements. Commercial goods like emerald layouts are doing well. The navratna gems are also in demand. Mayank Lathiya of B. Maneck Exports said that they receive new buyers for their pear and marquise diamonds. Dhanraj Kabre, regional marketing head for Divine Solitaires felt that there were less walk-ins this year. Nevertheless, they received buyers from North and East India for solitaires between 40 cents and 80 cents. Gold buying boosts sentiments The gold jewellery section was bustling 54 solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY throughout the show s duration. Vishal Jain, partner of Shah Vanaji Kesaji & Co., was very happy with the business transacted at IIJS 2016. The show has surpassed our expectations. We have met new buyers from North India as well as international buyers from Fiji, Dubai and Mauritius. We manufacture plain gold as well as diamond jewellery. While the sale of diamond jewellery has been slow, gold jewellery sales have been very good. Retailers have already placed orders and have confirmed the same by making advance payments. The sales volumes are lower this year as retailers are being cautious. Innovative patterns have taken precedence over jewellery weight, said Jain. Sushil Solanki, director, Sangam Jewels N Gold LLP informed that sales have been consistent with that of last year. Designer chains are in demand. We showcased two-tone yellow gold and rhodium-plated textured chains as well as chains with pendants that weigh around 15-20 grams. Our new collections are almost sold out. Buyers have been selective in their purchases, informed Rishabh Jain, partner, Trident Corporation, Mumbai. Their budgets are constrained due to the slow period and they are being cautious. However, they are taking note of the designs that they like and will place more orders once the market picks up. Our contemporary, lightweight mangalsutras with onyx and pearls have been the bestselling range at the show, added Jain. Royal Chains, too, did brisk business. Given the current market situation, the show has been above our expectations. Basic items like plain gold rings and earrings are in demand while sales of heavy bridal sets are slow, said Manish Jain, director of the firm. In the plain gold section, Neeraj Parswani of DBS Jewels met his regular buyers at the show, who placed orders for lightweight bangles. He also showcased CNC bangles in 925 silver. We have got enquiries for it and I am sure silver will get a boost in the coming months. Abdul Rehman Shaikh of Gold Artism was extremely happy with the business transacted at IIJS, with buyers from all over India placing orders for 22-karat necklace sets, pendants and bangles. Punit Jain of Sunil Jewellers informed that sales have been at par with the previous year. We met our regular clients at the show. This time, they have picked only necklaces between 80 grams and 100 grams, said Jain. Allwin Jewellers saw heavy demand for necklaces in the range of 80-100 grams. We met new as well as old buyers at the show. Apart from necklaces, we also showcased a new collection of floral kadas. Almost 80% of the products in that line have been booked, said Nilesh Jain, director of the firm. Nikunj Jain of Sundaram Chains commented, IIJS has been very good if one compares it to sales in the last three months. Retailers have been very selective Buyers have been selective in their purchases, informed Rishabh Jain, partner, Trident Corporation, Mumbai. Their budgets are constrained due to the slow period and they are being cautious. However, they are taking note of the designs that they like and will place more orders once the market picks up. Gie Gold Creations Jasmine Design solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016 55

De Beers Bruce Cleaver and GJEPC s Praveenshankar Pandya sign the MoU to kickstart the generic diamond promotion campaign Jewel Ace in their orders. They already have a lot of jewellery in their inventory and as a result they bought only novel designer pieces. They have placed delivery orders for September-October as they expect the market to pick up during Diwali. Pendant sets, hollow chains and bracelets with design elements have done well, informed Jain. Arun Sharma, manager, Krizz informed that buyers were purchasing 30-40% less in terms of volume as compared to last year. Rings between 1 gm and 3 gm, and pendant sets up to 12 gm were the hot-sellers. Swapnil Kothari of Swapnil Enterprises said that this was his first year at IIJS. The company specialises in 22-karat gold mangalsutras and although they met their regular clients, they saw no new buyers. Most of their clients preferred mangalsutras between 55 gm and 75 gm. The buying was practically nil for the past few months due to severe drought in the rural areas. Now with the good monsoon, I am hopeful that the buying with resume in earnest, said Kothari. Anish Birawat, director of Chain N Chains, said, I would rate this IIJS as a decent show for us. We have got a mixed response. Buyers are still unclear about the governmental policies and with excess stock in their showrooms, they have curtailed their buying. Those who did visit the booth placed orders across all the chain categories. He said that buying has come down by 30% from last year. Kick-starting generic promotions On the opening day of IIJS 2016, the GJEPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with De Beers to undertake promotional activities to drive consumer demand for diamond jewellery in India. De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver, the chief guest on the occasion, signed the MoU along with GJEPC chairman Praveenshankar Pandya. The category marketing-based campaign will be run during the key selling season in India, similar to De Beers efforts in the US and China. The funding will be agreed upon by both GJEPC and De Beers. Pandya noted: There may be turbulence ahead, but we have confidence that we shall protect and promote the trade. We have the determination to go to the next level. Promotion is the key to develop the industry. GJEPC is fully committed to partnering with diamond miners such as De Beers to promote the diamond category across the world. GJEPC is making efforts to install various diamond testing machines across the country to counter the threat of synthetic diamonds and help the trade and consumers retain confidence in the product. In his speech, Cleaver stated, We must be unrelenting in our joint efforts to grow diamond demand to maintain consumer confidence. India is central to the future of De Beers and to the international diamond industry. And partnerships will need to be at the heart of our approach as we look to tap new opportunities. De Beers has undertaken a consumer research project looking at concepts based on products that retailers already have in their inventory and we are excited about the emerging potential results. Our early discussions have focused on small diamonds, targeting the gifting of diamond jewellery to younger married women, so important to both Indian diamond manufacturers and retailers. Such a well-directed campaign will be a boost for diamond jewellery demand in India s vibrant consumer sector and we look forward to sharing the details with you in the coming weeks. Alongside this, we continue to invest in domestic opportunities for Forevermark, which has seen such strong growth in India ever since its launch. We are consistently seeing 25-30% national growth rates for Forevermarkbranded products and the Indian consumer s appetite for these innovative designs and concepts shows no sign of slowing down. We are making these investments in India as we see a huge amount of 56 solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY opportunity to grow the domestic diamond jewellery sector. In fact, we believe there is more growth opportunity here than anywhere else in the world. There is clearly a great degree of excitement about what we can achieve in India s downstream sector. But we are also committed to supporting the hugely important role that India s midstream businesses play on the global diamond stage. And when it comes to rough diamond sales from De Beers, India is once again at the centre of all we do, Cleaver remarked. Among the other dignitaries present on inauguration day were Manoj Dwivedi, joint secretary, Manoj Dwivedi, joint secretary, ministry of commerce, ministry of commerce, GJEPC vice-chairman Russell Mehta, GJEPC executive director Sabyasachi Ray, and GJEPC convener national exhibitions sub-committee Saunak Parikh. Dwivedi stated, The government and GJEPC are working jointly and passionately to take the gems and jewellery industry to the next level. The government s priority is employment and the country s vast labour force has to be optimally utilised to enhance productivity and skill sets. Our goal should be to increase exports and match up to international best-in-class practices while competing globally and stimulating demand. Government reforms will be in tune with promotions. The most significant reform after the 1991 liberalisation GST has become a reality and the key is seamless implementation. One country, one tax, one market will infuse new energy into the economy and growth will materialize. The Skill Council of India has targeted to train 5 million workers and upgrade skills. The other key initiative is to geographically map, tag and brand the unique jewellery of different parts of the country be it jewellery from South or North East or Jaipur to highlight the craftsmanship of that particular area. In addition, the GJEPC signed two MoUs with the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange (GDGJE) and the Guangzhou Diamond Exchange (GZDE), which are two of the biggest gems and jade trading gateways in southern Mainland China. The MoUs will have a framework to facilitate collaboration between the parties in areas of mutual interest in the diamond industry, including promotional activities and trading. solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016 57

WJA India Launches Member Directory and Mona Mehta, respectively, released the directory. In his speech, Praveenshankar Pandya hailed Bhatt s spirited approach and commended her contribution to the gems and jewellery industry, adding, She s an inspiration to all of us. The Women s Jewelry Association (WJA), India chapter, inaugurated its Member Directory at the IIJS. Its chairperson Nirupa Bhatt in her keynote address said that though the India chapter was founded in 2010, it took some time for the association to take off in earnest. But I am stubborn and saw to it that the chapter got going. It took us a few years to grow, but today I am happy to note that we have more than 110 members! On another note, he also stated that the Indian jewellery segment has been largely catering to the domestic market, but it is time to look at global markets and boost jewellery exports. He was confident that forums like WJA India, which have a pool of professional forces, can lead from the front. Indian designers should start focusing on designer products that the Western world wants. India should also create designers who are recognised worldwide, as this is in keeping with the government s Make In India vision. Bhatt noted that her association with WJA US chapter started 15 years ago and she learned that it was an important platform to share, network and grow. We are hoping that many more professional women join us and collectively, we can make a difference in this industry. GJEPC chairman Praveenshankar Pandya along with vicechairman Russell Mehta, and their wives, Namita Pandya Reintroducing The Gold Tola MMTC-PAMP has collaborated with World Gold Council to present their latest initiative, the tola to the jewellery industry at the India International Jewellery Show. Based on the old Vedic measure of gold, one tola in entirety was the weight of one hundred ratti seeds, traditionally carried by bullion merchants in a cloth bag. Encapsulating the concept of the tola and redefining the original in feel and look, MMTC-PAMP s tola is an octagonal shaped coin with distinctive knurled edges and an intricate finish, weighing precisely 11.6638 gm in 999.9 pure gold. The range also encompasses the half tola (5.8319 gm) and the quarter tola (2.9159 gm). 58 solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY GJEPC To Set Up Jewellery Manufacturing Cell The GJEPC aims to form a manufacturing sub-group to upgrade jewellery manufacturing techniques in order to boost jewellery exports in line with the Make in India policy of the government. The details were discussed by GJEPC chairman Praveenshankar Pandya on the sidelines of the IIJS. The meeting was attended by top industry leaders. The main agenda was to discuss the framing of the jewellery park policy by the government, the strategy to be adopted to increase manufacturing and quality upgradation of jewellery in the country, government initiatives required for the same, the different laws on excise, GST, factory, etc. that need to be amended for facilitation of manufacturing of jewellery in the country and to take actions to increase exports. Jewellery manufacturers from key centres like Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Trichur, Kolhapur, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Surat, Amritsar, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Meerut, Nellur and Chennai attended the top-level discussion. shutterstock.com India s First Jewellery Trend Book Coming Soon The GJEPC, in association with the National Institute of Design (NID), will be soon coming up with a Trend Book wholly dedicated to jewellery. The Trend Book would be largely India-focused and yet be very global in its perspective. It will feature upcoming trends in jewellery, design directions and inspirations. Comprehensive research has been undertaken as a part of this project to study the global macro trends which are likely to influence the designing, manufacturing and retail of jewellery. An extensive pan-india research has brought to light the shift in the perception of jewellery and its changing relationship with the Indian consumer. The Trend Book is a synthesis of this insightful research. It will capture the broad spectrum of diamonds, coloured stones, gold, and fashion jewellery across three verticals Bridal, Couture, and Pret. The Jewellery Trend Book is likely to be a game changer for the Indian jewellery sector. It will apprise the industry of consumer trends and enable it to be future-ready by developing designs which are in tune with consumer tastes, preferences, needs and aspirations, says Shimul Mehta Vyas, principal designer and activity chairperson, outreach programmes at NID, who is leading the Trend Book project. Vyas strongly believes that this is a milestone initiative of the GJEPC for making the gem and jewellery industry more design-oriented and establishing a strategic position for itself worldwide. Speaking about the initiative, GJEPC chairman Praveenshankar Pandya noted, We have excelled in the diamond and gemstone segments. As for jewellery, we haven t made the progress that we should have. We are still not quality conscious and given the inadequate infrastructure, we need to upgrade our designs, manufacturing strengths, and require more gem and jewellery institutes to teach design, and invite overseas designers to teach our students. He noted that the Trend Book will definitely be a guiding force for the manufacturers of jewellery. shutterstock.com Colin Shah, member of the PM & BD sub-committee, said that the Council had been organising Design Inspirations for the past three years and realised that there was an overarching need for the Indian industry to have design forecasting and trend guidelines. We began to search for an agency and we zeroed in on the premier institute National Institute of Design, he noted. The GJEPC will be launching the Trend Book later this year during the India International Jewellery Week (IIJW). solitaire INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2016 59