Hi, welcome!  I’m Aishwarya and I live in Brooklyn, NY. I grew up in Mumbai and moved to the US for a tech degree (I know, shocker!). Growing up I was quite a creative kid. Even though I couldn’t draw to save my life, I loved making macrame accessories and designing clothes. My mom taught me to crochet at 14 and I did make it my whole personality! I grew up around strong successful women like my mom and grandma - wonderful singers, fiber artists and entrepreneurs in their own right - who made the world go round. I aspired a career as a creative but was deterred by Indian society because “art doesn’t pay”. So, I went to school for engineering and then moved to the US to pursue a masters degree.              

 

           I did it! I got a big girl job, got my own place in Madison, WI and became an “adult”. My art became a hobby, relegated to evenings and weekends. Trying to keep that artistic drive going, I learned to knit and made sweaters and blankets and SO MANY scarves! One August Saturday morning while browsing for fresh flowers at the local farmer’s market I came across a pair of polymer clay earrings at one of the stands and absolutely fell in love with them. Little did I know, those earrings started me down the path of reconnecting with my creative self. I bought myself some basic supplies, watched a ton of tutorials and started designing my own jewelry. Through this time, I moved to NYC and saw a wide array of creatives and made friends with artists.
                                   
           Beads came next in my journey. On a chilly February afternoon I walked a mile to buy beading thread and learn the skills to bring my thoughts to life. I couldn’t stop making art. That spark which had been smothered by trying to fit into the societal definition of a grown up felt like it was freed. So, after 5 years of a corporate tech career, I decided to invest in myself and my art and thus Arya’s Atelier came into being.            My pieces are made with a specific feelings and intentions in mind. Some are bold and colorful to give me the confidence to be my true self, some are delicate and feminine reminding me of walks through the woods and listening to the leaves rustling in the wind and some are very literal - like my Dream Houses collection - that are absolutely wish fulfillment of having a beautiful house in this city. I hope that they evoke a similar feeling in you - my beautiful wearer. I hope they bring you joy as you get dressed on a sunny day and whimsy when you put on a shimmery pair for a night on the town or maybe just a smile on a cloudy day, reminding you of sunshine and warmer times. Bringing you joy with my art is one of the highest goals I would like to achieve. If you’ve stayed with me so far, thank you! My ramblings are quite long. I hope these pieces become a part of your story as they have been a part of mine.