Through her skincare label, Junglo, part-time Melburnian Diya Shahaney celebrates the traditional South Asian beauty ingredients she grew up with. Here, she shares how her family’s culture has influenced her approach to style, starting with her most treasured item: a set of bangles.
I grew up in India then moved to Australia when I was seven. I’ve always felt different, whether that’s because of the texture of my hair, my skin colour or the food I would eat in the playground. But I think one area where I haven’t felt the need to fit in is in fashion.
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It’s a credit to the women I’ve grown up around. They each have a very distinct, unique and personal sense of style, from the way they drape their sarees (there are many different ways to do it) to the region their fabrics come from. My current style is authentic and playful, which to me are one and the same, even though one sounds serious and the other sounds fun. But I think when you’re being playful, there are no rules, so that’s when you’re being authentic to yourself.
I’m a storyteller, both through my skincare brand Junglo and my style. I focus on details like tailoring, craftsmanship and how each stitch and fold can tell a story. My wardrobe blends Indian styles like one-shoulder draped pieces I can wear over a pair of jeans – easy to wear, but a way to carry my culture. One of my favourite items I own is a bangle set my mum got me many years ago.
It’s two different sets combined and I’ve removed some pieces. There are nine bangles in this set, and they’re all different sizes and types of gold. Each one has its own really beautiful talisman. My mum makes these trips back to Delhi to visit her mum every few months, and every time she comes back, she buys something for me. There’s this really beautiful store near our house in Delhi called Ogaan.
It’s like the Incu of India and that’s where she bought these bangles. My whole life, I’ve grown up with women wearing bangles or wrist accessories because they’re a very culturally-rooted piece. I love the mix of subtlety and strength they have. You can constantly hear the clinking sound as you move your hands.
Although I’m not always the first person to speak up in a room, the bangles announce my presence before I say anything. There’s also this nostalgia that I think a lot of brown women would relate to. There was always a ringing through the household when the women in my family would move around or get dressed. Jewellery is such a big thing for Indian families and Indian women, and the sound of bangles is synonymous with their strength. It’s a way of carrying their stories with me.
We’re so lucky to be South Asian – we have some of the most creative photographers, designers and artists out there. It’s so exciting to see the global recognition they’re getting now.
A lot of these designers are meaningful to me, as they’re mixing craftsmanship with modern silhouettes. It’s not only about their clothing but how they market their brands that’s inspiring to me. I think it’s very similar to what I’m trying to do with Junglo. These designers are uniquely themselves. They’re not tied to trend cycles. It’s all about them being able to express their culture and heritage and I find that so refreshing.
This article was originally published in Fashion Journal issue 196.
For more on Indian jewellery, try this.
This article “My bangles announce my presence”: How jewellery connects Junglo’s founder to her heritage appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-03-20 04:30:00
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