It began in Rajasthan.
Storytelling through the body
Traditionally in India, every limb of woman’s body is adorned with precious metals and stones in the form of jewelry as a means of amplifying her potency (shakti). Balancing the ethereal and the earth, spirit and form is a metaphor repeated throughout texts and traditions.
Archetypes of auspiciousness are abundant and images of Laxmi (Goddess of Abundance) are ever present to remind us to celebrate beauty through ornamentation. Nakarali jewelry is a celebration of this beautiful form that we inhabit, that we make art with, that we create culture with, that we make love with. We tell our story and speak of our dreams through our body…
Dance is a way of life
Colleena Shakti is an international performing artist deeply invested in the classical and folk dance forms of India. Originally from California, she has lived primarily in Rajasthan for the past 20 years training in dance and collecting/designing jewelry. She has worked extensively with folkloric artist communities in rural Rajasthan and has gained immense inspiration from their traditions in silver jewelry.
Dance within the Indian classical context is yoga, an intricate path of art and science that leads one ever closer to transcendence. Her immersive study in Indian aesthetics and philosophies associated with the arts has given her a unique lens to express meaning within in the art of adornment, symbolism and jewelry. Indian dance forms thrive on ornamentation and intricacy such as mudra (hand gestures), eye movements and complex footwork. Jewelry and the rituals of adornment are a vital component of performing arts in India.
Nakarali
Founded in 2003, Colleena began traveling back from India to the US and Europe with her collections of Rajasthani vintage jewelry to adorn the elegant dancers of a budding ‘Tribal Bellydance’ scene at festivals and dance studios. For 10 beautiful years Nakarali was a partnership enterprise between Colleena and Tribal Bellydance innovator and style icon, Carolena Nericcio and was housed in the famous FCBD studios in San Francisco.
Today Nakarali is taking new directions with the launch of Crystal Pyramids, a fine art jewelry collection designed by Colleena Shakti and expanding as a global web store. The spirit of the traveler and old world cultures lives vibrantly through each piece which is hand crafted in Rajasthan, India. Nakarali weaves story, color and culture into each carefully selected piece and unique original design.
“I believe adorning the body is as primitive an urge as dance. It knocks on the door of the heart to those who also hear that call for dance, color, culture, detail and shining”
- Colleena S. Founder, Designer