Dreams are the most important fuel for success, but very few have the courage and determination to follow them. Meenakshi “Mini” Rani, however, now that her children are grown, has recently chosen to pursue her passions, combining her love for nature and her adoration for artistic expression with her deep appreciation for her cultural heritage through a medium that many can enjoy: jewelry. 

Since childhood, Rani has been fascinated by the fashion industry. She was brought up in a small town in India, where she took pride in matching her female relatives with jewelry and clothing that she felt reflected their styles and personalities. After marrying her husband, she immigrated to the US, where she raised her son and daughter. Now, with her youngest entering her second year of college, Rani is chasing her dreams. After several years of coordinating jewelry expositions, publicizing her work, and learning about the inner workings of the industry, she has finally opened her own store, Rani Jewels, located in Factoria Mall right outside the Target entrance.  

Her jewelry is unlike any other because of the raw passion she puts into her work. Rani’s business is a one-woman show. She runs the store without any employees or staff, and while it often gets overwhelming, she enjoys her job more than anything. As a result, she works very hard to ensure that everything in her shop is handcrafted with ethical sourcing, high quality, and exquisite style. Rani explains that her designs are like snowflakes: “No two pieces I sell are alike.” While she often imitates styles, she does not sell exact replicas of any of her jewelry. She cares deeply about matching pieces to people and wants everyone to feel unique and appreciated through their jewelry.  

Besides being her last name, the Hindi word Rani translates to “queen,” and Rani wants every woman wearing her jewelry to feel they are exactly that. She believes in using fashion as a voice. She wants to empower women by allowing them to express themselves through jewelry, so she focuses a large part of her business on custom pieces. She encourages clients to envision her pieces with characteristics that excite them, bringing each of their personalities into everything she creates. If a customer brings her a sketch, she will turn it into their very own piece of jewelry while respecting their budget. If someone views something in her store but imagines it with a different stone size or chain color, she will alter the product to suit their taste. Any person walking into her shop is treated like royalty. Rani has an incredible gift for pairing personalities and appearances with fashion, which she uses to help women feel confident in their beauty.  

Rani’s designs aren’t basic jewelry. She experienced many culture shocks when moving to the United States, and her designs are a way to stay in touch with her heritage. Each of her designs combine popular western styles with traditional Indian jewelry-making techniques, creating a show-stopping cultural fusion art form that is conveniently wearable. She interestingly uses objects in nature as her base inspiration. Even as a child, Rani has always noticed nature’s intricate design. Simple features such as the texture of fallen leaves, the rays of the sun, or the rings forming the inner layer of a tree trunk amuse her. She had seen designs like flowers replicated onto jewelry, but never these more nuanced natural occurrences, and decided to create this herself. When she adds the American and Indian stylistic elements to this nature-based inspiration, she creates something that can only reflect her personal experiences, which adds layers of depth to her jewelry.  

Every piece tells a story, and little fragments of each of these stories reflect the heart and soul of the woman who tells them. Each gemstone color, ring band style, and chain color is chosen for a reason. When told to visualize an art form, most people will not automatically think of jewelry making. But Rani sees her work as an extension of herself. She makes art that can help people feel like themselves. She makes art that people can keep with them wherever they go. Rani’s art is personal. With the holiday season coming up, the Newcastle community is endlessly lucky to have a nearby small business that will put effort into curating the perfect gifts for our loved ones. 

Visit https://www.ranijewels.us/ to learn more!