This Thursday, we're welcoming jewelry brand Anees to our permanent curation of independent designers from South Asia. Founded by Ayesha Pardesi as an homage to her late father, the brand specializes in handmade sterling silver jewelry defined by natural finishes and semi-precious stones. We sat down with Ayesha to chat about Anees, her jewelry making process, and everything from favorite pieces to gold vs. silver.
What does Anees mean and what was the inspiration behind the brand?
Anees is named after my father. It means “close friend” or “companion” in Arabic, which felt right for jewelry, since the pieces are meant to be with you, close to you, every day.
The brand really started forming after he passed, when I found a ring of his. Something he’d worn for years, that had become part of how I remembered him. Holding it, I realized that’s what jewelry can actually be: not just an accessory, but something that holds a person, a memory, a piece of time. An object that outlives the moment it was made in.
That’s the whole idea behind Anees: modern heirlooms. Pieces designed to be worn now, but built to last long enough to be passed down, to carry meaning the way that ring carries his. Naming the brand after him felt like the most honest way to start that. Building something meant to last, named after someone whose memory I want to last too.
What is the most challenging (or most surprising) part about jewelry making that isn’t obvious to the general eye?
Probably how much is decided by hand, in the moment. There’s no perfect repeatability. Every piece is shaped, soldered, and finished individually, so no two come out exactly the same. That’s by design (it’s part of the brand), but it means every single piece is its own small negotiation with the metal. People see the finished object and assume precision; they don’t see how much of it is improvisation.
What are your 1-3 favorite pieces in your collection and what inspired the design of them?
The Ameera ring is probably the one closest to me, named after my best friend and her favorite flower, the sunflower. It was one of the first pieces I made and it’s still our bestseller, which feels right. The Orbit ring is a newer favorite: a marquise smoky quartz in a matte finish, much more architectural than my earlier work, and it pushed me into a different design language. And the Tide ring, feels the most “metalsmith” of anything I’ve made. Very hands-on and unearthed-looking rather than constructed.
As someone who, in my opinion, is incredibly fashionable, what are your three key essentials for a great outfit?
Accessories, first and foremost. I love jewelry because it can take something monochrome or simple and make it feel intentional, like it’s really yours. Sunglasses are an obsession of mine too. I have so many pairs, and they can change your entire look so effortlessly. Comfort is huge for me: comfortable fabrics, cuts, undergarments, shoes. I really optimize for that, because I can’t feel my best unless I feel comfortable. And lastly, blush and lip liner. I love a little flush and a cute pout.
For someone living in New York looking to get into jewelry making, what are resources and spaces you’d recommend?
I started at NYC Jewelry Lab. Jewelry Arts Institute and Brooklyn Metal Works are also great. Watch a ton of YouTube, practice a lot, and let yourself loose in the process. Find a great instructor who can show you the ropes and helps you perfect your craft. Don’t hold yourself to making the “perfect piece.” Jewelry can be organic and forgiving, and it’s a beautiful journey once you land there.
One of the most important questions, especially for us brown girls: gold or silver?
Silver, through and through. But I have a deep respect for the goldsmithing traditions that come out of South Asia. The craftsmanship, the techniques, the designs are genuinely beautiful. Personally though, I think silver looks so good on our skin tone, and I love the way it pairs with how I dress. It just feels like me.
