From clinical to chic
A passion for costume jewellery has led a doctor from patients to fashion entrepreneurship, writes
WHEN Dr Nalini Velaitham opens the front door of her home, I notice a smiling toddler standing beside her, wearing an eye-catching chunky beaded necklace.
Obviously, there are little girls in the house and like most little girls, (and big ones too), they simply can’t resist colourful and well-crafted jewellery.
At this home in Country Heights, Kajang, the location for Dr Beads handmade jewellery, row upon row of colourful beads in all shapes and sizes sit neatly in clear compartment boxes on a poolside table.
Pliers, wires, jewellery clasps and other tools of the trade lie scattered nearby while finished pieces of bead jewellery are beautifully displayed at the same table.
It’s the workstation of a woman who is obviously passionate about her craft.
Dr Nalini, a medical doctor and mother of three, has always had an interest in entrepreneurship and a love for costume jewellery, especially bead accessories and over a period of time, she started to learn how to make these accessories through You Tube tutorials.
Her interest grew deeper as the jewellery she made for friends and family was well received and eventually, in October last year, she launched her own brand — Dr Beads, handmade jewellery, which stands out with its bold, chunky designs and clever use of contrasting colours.
Dr Nalini, who practised as a doctor for five years after graduation, says her heart has always been in entrepreneurship.
She eventually did her MBA and is now in the midst of completing her Phd with research in the area of “mumpreneurship”.
She sees herself as a mumpreneur too, given that on most days, she’s busy juggling the needs of three children under eight while trying to develop her fledging jewellery line.
On most days, she only gets to work on her designs once the children are asleep.
“I don’t sketch a design first unlike some jewellery artists. My ideas start as an image in my head and I get to work on them straightaway.”’
She uses glass and seed beads which lend her pieces a lovely shine and her designs stand out in terms of size and colour.
Dr Beads is certainly not for the shrinking violets out there but a woman who’s not afraid to draw attention to herself.
Bold pink, bright blue and neon yellow are just some of its popular colour themes.
While some people may only wear these pieces for special occasions, the jewellery is actually suitable for daily wear too depending on how one styles it.
Many of the necklaces, earrings and bracelets can easily be mixed and matched with either formal or casual attire.
Most of Dr Nalini’s clients place their orders through her website and she also markets her pieces through social media and pop up stores at shopping malls.
Very often, clients request for custommade pieces and Dr Nalini is happy to oblige.
“One customer wanted a necklace in a specific combination of neon green beads and pearls so I made it for her. Sometimes, clients look at my existing pieces and request that I add or remove something to make it more suited to them or design it in a different colour.”
The more complex pieces like the multi-