In a significant step towards inclusivity and gender equity in jewellery manufacturing, Anayah, the British luxury brand renowned for blending South Asian artistry with contemporary design, has hired its first female artisans at its India-based workshop.
The decision was inspired by a moment of reflection during The Bazaar Dialogues — a roundtable hosted by Harper’s Bazaar India and Bicester Village — where the lack of female representation in the jewellery supply chain was brought into sharp focus. For Nilofar Jaques, founder of Anayah and a former investment banker, the discussion became a turning point.
“It struck me how easily we accept things as ‘normal’ without questioning them,” said Jaques. “When I asked why we didn’t have any women artisans, the answers ranged from tradition to practicality. That’s when I realised — the issue isn’t capability, it’s that the system never made space for them.”
In a sector where male dominance in the artisan workforce remains the norm, Anayah’s move stands out. The brand’s India facility has now onboarded four women artisans, alongside investing in infrastructure such as women-only restrooms and updating workshop protocols to ensure a safe, respectful working environment. Despite initial concerns around costs, Jaques was unwavering.
“Real empowerment is never convenient,” she added. “It requires investment, a willingness to challenge outdated systems, and a refusal to accept that things must remain the way they’ve always been.”
Headquartered in London, Anayah has quickly carved out a distinctive niche in the luxury jewellery space by championing South Asian craftsmanship with a modern British sensibility. Worn by celebrities and cultural tastemakers across the UK, GCC, and North America, the brand has earned features in Vogue, Forbes, and Harper’s Bazaar India for its distinctive design language and socially conscious ethos.
The inclusion initiative marks the beginning of a broader mission at Anayah to empower women not just through storytelling, but through structural change in the production process. As a British luxury house working closely with Indian artisans, the brand sees itself as uniquely positioned to question inherited hierarchies and set new industry standards.
This latest move cements Anayah’s evolving identity: a modern luxury brand that doesn’t just showcase heritage—it reshapes it.