In 2018, I returned to Bohemia after several years living abroad and felt that it still was not the place where I wanted to settle. I had several months ahead before deciding what to do next, and at that time I decided to go to India, a land that had long drawn me with its culture. I went to a yoga ashram, where I practiced yoga for some time, and in the end, I decided to extend my stay. I had no specific plan. But India fascinated me from the very first moment. It was not an easy country to travel in, but I felt surprisingly alive there. So I continued without a clear direction, letting myself be guided by what came my way.
The journey gradually led me to a region known for its long tradition of craft. I spent most of my time at markets and among local makers. More than finished products, I was drawn to the process itself, the way of working, and the relationship people had with what they created. At one of the markets, I entered a small shop where I bought my first leather notebook with a stone. It was made by a man who was finishing it at that moment. I stayed longer, watching his work and admiring the skill with which the individual parts were made. We exchanged contacts, and I left with the thought that I might get in touch with him someday.
Further travels took me to various parts of India, including places of great importance to Hinduism. It was there that I began to spend more time and gradually fell in love with stones, especially moonstone and labradorite. I started learning to make jewelry and create simple pieces that gradually became my personal talismans. I also found myself in a small workshop where silver was worked, and I spent a lot of time there observing and learning the basics of the craft.
When I returned to Bohemia, I brought several of these pieces with me as gifts for my loved ones. Everyone liked them very much, and they were truly well received. After some time, I reconnected with the craftsmen, and we began creating together from afar. At first, it was just a few pieces and simple designs based on what I myself liked and wore.
The creation of Ashariya was still far off then. Those were more the beginnings, in which I tried to bring a piece of what I had experienced in India into the environment where I lived. The brand has changed significantly since then, but the main essence remains the same. A relationship to craft, to the people I work with, and to things that come into being slowly.
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