7 stunning jewellery pieces to borrow from Indian tribes

Tribal jewellery amongst communities signifies special status and seniority, whereas some hold spiritual beliefs and functional habits as well. These stunning ornaments reflect the socio-cultural traditions and continue to thrive and captivate the attention of fashion enthusiasts across the globe. From extensively using wood, ivory, metal, bones, feathers, and wild grass, this jewellery is a creative expression and showcases the incredible vision and craftsmanship of these communities. Let’s take a look at 7 stunning pieces that we can borrow from these Indian tribes.

Decorating themselves with red coral beads of Jaintia and Khasi and thin glass fluted stems of Garo are the ornaments carried by the indigenous tribes of Meghalaya. These stunning beads and stems are strung together to form bracelets, trinkets, belts, earrings, and necklaces, which are worn on special occasions and some every day. The women wear headgear during the ‘Lahoo’ dance that looks absolutely magnificent.

(Image Credits: Pinterest)

Bastar is a well-known tribal area in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and is particularly popular for creating stunning necklaces using the one-rupee coins, which are popular across the nation. Apart from this, they use glass, silver, wood, peacock feathers, and other unique metals, with grass, natural beads, and wildflowers, to create necklaces, headgear, earrings, and more that are commercially popular too.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)

The Banjaras are a nomadic tribe residing in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat who adorn themselves with chunky and colourful jewellery made from shells, coins, beads, and metallic mesh. They also use Banjara tribal art in decorating them and also instil it in belts, footwear, bags, and more.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)

The people of the Wancho tribe use seeds, beetles, feathers, and bamboo canes, which are used to decorate their jewels. The Karka Gallong women adorn themselves with coils of iron rings as earrings and emboss them in headdresses decorated with feathers of the great Hornbill bird. The Apatani tribe further forges iron bracelets, which are worn as earrings with red blossoming flowers that look iconic.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)

Maharashtra’s Halba tribe uses metals like silver, gold, aluminium, and brass to create stunning locks of braid known as Khosas and captivating ear piercings known as Khinwas. They also wear nose piercings known as phuli, and adorn these on their bodies as well. Tattoo jewellery is very common among the men in this tribe.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)

The Konda Kapur tribes mainly use silver and copper coins to construct stunning ornaments, which have earned a premium tag from antique collectors in the modern world. Necklaces are mainly created from 25 paisa and 50 paisa coins, which are also worn by the folk women during special occasions.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)

The tribes of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh wear anklets, iron-headed bangles, collar-like ornaments known as Hansalis, and chokes made from silver known as Kachs, with stunning decorative daggers, and show them off during their regional festivals. Filled with silver and colours, women in this tribe also decorate their headgear with this iconic detailing.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)