Our Story

Cantik (pronounced chan-teek), means beautiful in Bahasa Indonesian. It was born out of a place of love and admiration for the natural world around me. Growing up in the 80's in a small town in Ohio USA, enabled me to go outside and play, to surround myself in nature and revel at all of nature's gifts to us. Flower crowns adorned my head and vine necklaces were a young girl's treasured possession. Never did I imagine back then how much my life would evolve over the years. 

Jewelry has always been something that I loved. From the small pieces my mom and dad would gift me for holidays and birthdays when I was little, to the friendship bracelets that my friends and I would exchange when I was a teenager. Fast forward to years later, when I would travel the world and experience the beauty and craftmanship of jewelry from different cultures all over the globe. I was not the collector of knick-nacs like many of my expat friends, but I became a collector of jewelry and memories. When I lived in Kuwait and traveled within the Middle East, I enjoyed meeting the artisans and hearing their stories about how they were inspired to create different pieces. Then I moved to Bali. 

Bali is a small island that had a huge impact on my creative and spiritual life. I found my own creative spirit whilst living there and began my journey as an artist, one painting at a time. As an international educator I was able to travel and learn from other cultures, get inspired by all the new and exciting things that I saw in each new place I traveled to. I was jet-setting and boating all over SE Asia. Then I met my husband. 

We moved to India and once again my life shifted in whole new ways. After a few years, I left teaching and decided to allow my creative spirit to lead me. Cantik is my small offering to the world, as a way to say thank you for all the beauty I have witnessed in the natural world and all the creative energy that I have been able to harness and hold onto, which has helped me live a bold life. I want to show my gratitude to the Indian artisans who keep the many handicrafts and methods of creation alive here. But I also wanted to pay homage to all my Indonesian friends, who would greet me with Cantik Sekali (very beautiful) and encourage me to keep creating. We have met artisans far and wide, spending their days and nights creating incredibly beautiful pieces for you to enjoy. My hope is that by bringing their creations to you, you will be inspired to go out into the world and create something of your very own. 

When designing Cantik, I wanted people to feel what I felt, to see what I saw and experience in some small way the wonders of the world. Each piece I have chosen spoke to my creative spirit in one way or another. Some of the pieces have been especially designed and created by me. The product names are of places that I have traveled to, moments I have shared and natural elements that I have bowed down to in my journey. For example: Lovely Lovina Earrings remind me of the time I was at Lovina Beach and saw dolphins doing huge leaps out of the water. Or the Echo Beach Droplets Earrings, which tells a story about the time I was at Echo Beach and got completely drenched from a storm that came out of nowhere! My life thus far has been an incredible journey, filled to the brim with magical moments that have taken my breath away in one way or another. With each journey I continue growing, one story and one memory at a time. 

Our Brass Collection has simple elegance and will help you to elevate your outfits in your wardrobe. These are what I like to think of as classic pieces, which can be paired with casual and dressier outfits year after year. They have a shine and brilliance to them that will instantly get noticed wherever you are. 

The Brass Mandala Collection was carefully designed by me. I took my mandala sketches from across the years, created in both Bali and India, and turned them into stunning jewelry pieces which will enhance any look. 

Our Seed Bead Collection is my baby. The collection has been lovingly designed by me as a way to show reverence to the unique designs, colours and motifs from India. 

Whenever you wear one of our pieces, I hope that you will be inspired and gain the confidence to live your very best life.

Sending you love, light and laughter wherever you are in your journey!

Be Bold, Be Cantik

 

Monica E. Dhawan