There is a reason the most unsettling objects are often the ones meant to protect us. In parts of India, homes and shops display nazar battus: faces with bulging eyes, protruding tongues, and intimidating expressions meant to deflect the evil eye. They are rarely conventionally pretty, their exaggerated features often veering into the uncanny. Yet their purpose is deeply caring. They stand guard.That contradiction sits at the heart of STARE, the first collaboration between jewellery designer Bhavya Ramesh and fashion label NorBlack NorWhite, founded by artists Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya. Conceived as a collection of jewellery and accessories that protects the unwanted gaze rather than invites it, STARE is a reflection on life lived under scrutiny, both online and off.
Conceived as a collection that protects the unwanted gaze
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“We have long been champions of protecting your spirit. This felt like a very natural extension of this sentiment,” says Mriga. “Every single woman has experienced the universal feeling of an unwanted gaze. This has amplified with our voyeuristic, super public culture where we don’t know how deep that unwanted gaze can go.”The brand has, over the years, built a visual language rooted in Indian textiles, crafts and everyday cultural practices, the idea of protection felt instinctive. Their work has consistently drawn from local symbols, textiles, and traditions, translating them into contemporary clothing and storytelling.Bhavya Ramesh’s world is not far removed. The Bengaluru-born, Mumbai-based designer has become known for jewellery that feels more talismanic. Her pieces, often sculptural and symbol-laden, draw from mythology, memory and mysticism. Adornment, in her universe, is rarely decoration for decoration’s sake.
