Tiara Dhody is a Mumbai-based founder and the creative force behind Treasures by Tiara. She studied at Cathedral and John Connon School, the United World College in Singapore, and later at Sarah Lawrence College, experiences that shaped her global perspective and independent thinking.
Growing up in a household where fashion and design were part of everyday conversation, she was naturally immersed in aesthetics. Influenced by her mother, Queenie Dhody, and Raja Dhody, she absorbed a visual language early on. Yet, she credits her broader worldview to quieter influences. “Beyond formal education, I feel most shaped by the books I read, the films I watch, the places I travel to, and the people I surround myself with,” she says. “All of it quietly filters into my work.”
Jewellery as Intimate Expression
Tiara has chosen the path of self-expression, and for her, jewellery is one of the most intimate mediums through which to access it. “It’s something you can wear, feel, and move with; it becomes part of your story,” she explains. She also describes a more intangible element: “There’s something cosmic about it, the way certain pieces seem to find you at the right time.”
In India, jewellery carries memory. It is passed down, inherited, gifted, layered with sentiment and history. That cultural weight deeply informs her design philosophy. “What sets my work apart is the balance between meaning and wearability,” she notes. The pieces are expressive without being loud, crafted to feel personal and enduring rather than purely ornamental. Many associate her designs with strong feminine energy, detailed craftsmanship, and jewellery that feels lived-in rather than showcased.
Designed to Be Lived In
Treasures by Tiara approaches jewellery differently. It is not created to be stored away for weddings or rare occasions; it is designed to be worn daily.
“The idea is to treat jewellery as elevated everyday essentials,” she says. Playful, layered, and individual, each piece is meant to feel like a personal treasure: expressive, slightly unexpected, and easy to style.
While craftsmanship remains central, the aesthetic leans modern. Vibrant gemstones, whimsical detailing, and contemporary silhouettes allow the pieces to transition seamlessly from day to evening. “It’s jewellery that moves easily within real wardrobes instead of sitting apart from them,” she explains.
Hope, Love, and Luck
An early defining milestone was her first exhibition, Hope, Love, and Luck. It clarified the emotional role her work could play.
“That project introduced my fascination with symbols, protection, love, optimism, fortune, and how deeply people connect to them,” she reflects.
Working with symbolism so early in her journey revealed that jewellery could carry intention, not just beauty. Since then, meaning has remained central to her creative process.
“Every piece begins with a thought, an emotion, or an idea I want to pass on.”
Dialogue with the Wearer
For Tiara, turning points are not singular events but recurring moments, often experienced during exhibitions.
“Seeing people interact with the jewellery in person shifts everything,” she says. The symbols they gravitate toward, the personal stories they attach to pieces, and the emotions that surface become part of her evolution as a designer.
Exhibiting allows the work to breathe beyond the studio. “Jewellery isn’t complete until someone connects with it,” she notes.
She frequently refines or expands her style based on these interactions. At present, her focus remains on continuing this dialogue through more exhibitions and developing pieces that grow alongside the women who wear them.
Intention Above All
Her work is guided by three enduring themes: hope, love, and luck. “They aren’t just themes; they’re intentions I consciously embed into every design.”
She is drawn to spirituality, protection, femininity, power, and heritage, talismans, coins, crowns, and motifs that feel timeless yet deeply personal.
The one value she refuses to compromise on is positive intention. “Every piece must hold something good within it. If it doesn’t carry meaning, it doesn’t leave the studio.”
Create Without Permission
To the next generation of women entrepreneurs, her message is straightforward: “Keep creating and don’t overthink it. Trust your instincts.”
She encourages women to build environments where they can grow rather than waiting for external validation.
“I’ve learned that resilience matters more than approval,” she says candidly. “The only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you, and if you can withstand criticism without bitterness and keep going, you’re already succeeding.”
Today, she defines success quietly and internally. “It’s the freedom to create with intention, to evolve without losing meaning, and to build something that feels true to you.”
