Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivek Gupta
Hi Vivek, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and bought up in India , New Delhi. In a joint cum nuclear family, surrounded by 13 adults having MBA degrees but soon I knew I was the black sheep of my family as I decided to follow my career in design.
During the 3rd year of my undergraduate degree when I was deciding what to do for my masters, I lost the most important person of my life My Amma (grand mother) she was the one who thought me to follow my heart and she gave me strength.! Her last blessing to me when I touched her feet was “ Be a good human being and always do good for others “ .
I started searching how can I follow the direction that she gave and soon i was introduced to the “S” word Sustainability.
I decided to pursue my masters in the files of sustainability, but soon in 2019 -20 the pandemic hit and I realised that the direction my grandmother gave me was important not only for me but for the world.
In 2021 January I started my masters journey in the field of design for sustainability from SCAD and I fell in love with Savannah the beautiful city, I felt good learning something that I believed in !
No one knew that my perspective towards life is gonna change again! On 17 April 2021 at night I was mugged on the streets of Savannah at a gun point ! I was shook to the core , next 3 weeks weren’t easy for me looking at the bruises on my head was just reminded for me of that incident . But like a strong individual far from home I lifted myself up and carried on with my studies.
I stated having thought that I am following my belief but what about my passion? I don’t know what tomorrow will be like or I will be able to see the next morning or not !
During that hard time I was introduced to the concept of “ikigai” – “a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living”. I call in passion! As soon as I realised that my passion was in world of jewellery , I decided to do another master simultaneous in jewellery design from SCAD as well and soon the success was on my way. I did not only delivered a beautiful children’s book on “short stories on inclusivity and simple steps to wards sustainability “ as my final deliverable in my first masters program Design for sustainability! But I also launched my own jewellery brand (Vichitrta by Vivek – a unique take on Indian contemporary jewellery) by the end of my SCAD journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
starting from being a black sheep of family (I also refer myself as rainbow sheep) deciding to pursue design as career while belonging to a business family. was never a easy step to take .
Then getting mugged at gun point in Savannah, in which even my passport was stolen and my confidence was shattered.!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Vichitra By Vivek?
The opulent jewellery worn by Indian deities and royals mesmerised me as a child and made me question how differently jewellery in society is perceived today.
In my search for answers, it was the three pillars of my life – my grandmother, mother, and sister who have constantly guided and nurtured me to become the person I am and find those answers myself. I am grateful for the blessings and support of my late grandmother Savitri Devi Gupta, my mother Babita Gupta and my sister Jyoti Singla.
Inspired by the architecture of India, I have always been intrigued by the arches . Not only metaphorically, but also in construction arches are used to provide maximum strength and integrity to structures and I use this iconic symbolism as an apt metaphor for strength.
I have always felt a deep connection to the moon, with its cyclic evolving nature and perennial presence it has always inspired strength during trying times. It is this confluence of strength and power that we witness in the brand Vichitra.
The collection showcase 3 distinct jewellery collections: Mehrab (The Arch) featuring linear arches designed for everyday wear which symbolises the initial phase of strength. Second , Shuklapaksh (The Time of Waxing Moon) featuring outerwear or occasion pieces, embodying the journey towards realising full potential. Finally, Anant Chandrama (The Infinite Moon) featuring couture contemporary festive wear, symbolising the journey of self-realisation and embracing completeness.
At “Vichitra By Vivek” we offer a unique take on Indian contemporary jewellery, the jewellery is made completely out of sterling silver and is made from a sustainable approach of production , in which skilled crafts man are involved . The brand aims to uplift the Indian crafts man and show case the beautiful work to the world .
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Spending time with friends and family makes me happy, specially my time with my cute niece and nephews .!
I love eating and eating good food really makes my day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichitra_by_vivek and https://www.instagram.com/vivek_gupta1998
