ONE LAST THING Meet the Maker Anju Jewelry BY DEBBIE EISELE Senior Retail Editor A socially conscious company provides artisan-made pieces created in India All photos by Sarah Vitel Photography Owners Gaurav and Anju Agarwal partnered with their first artisan group 10 years ago. F rom its humble beginnings of selling merchandise at craft fairs, Anju has grown into a well-known brand focused on sustainability and economic empowerment. Anju's artisans in India create traditional handcrafted pieces with global appeal. Gift Shop interviewed Gaurav Agarwal, founder of Anju Jewelry, to learn more about its beginnings and transformation into an established jewelry creator. Gift Shop: What was the inspiration behind starting Anju Jewelry and what is your " wow " factor? Gaurav Agarwal (GA): Growing up I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I came from a family where everyone was in business for themselves and I knew that was something I wanted to do. Initially we were buying beads from local stores and making jewelry to sell at craft fairs. After a few years the income became enough to sustain us, 156 SUMMER 2019 so I quit my " day " job and put all my energy into growing Anju Jewelry. At that time, while home on a trip to India, we met an artisan group that could not keep consistent work and we decided to partner with them. Our " wow " factor is that we use natural materials and we've created a distinct look that revolves around artisan craftsmanship. GS: How did you decide which artisan group to use for your merchandise? GA: We chose our first artisan group based on craftsmanship and the social aspect of partnering with them. When we met our first group in 2008, they were unable to keep steady work, so we were able to create a steady employment opportunity for them, which helped the artisans provide for their families. Over several years we've discovered additional techniques that our artisan groups were skilled in that we didn't even know existed. Our basketweave