Emergence of Accessories
Gone are the times when the ultimate in dressing-up meant sporting a d signer dress with an occasional accessory thrown in by way of jewellery, or a bag at the most. This trend was reversed almost overnight once the worldwide economic recession set in, according to Payal Jain, a leading fashion designer.

The depression in the world economic trends has resulted in a spurt in the prices of almost everything including designer garments. Consumers would not afford to buy them as often as they would have liked to. As a result, the attention shifted to more affordable accessories.

Jewellery is no longer only a security or a status symbol, it has become more focussed, changing from adornment into accessory. Whether in silver, gold, wood, acrylic, bone, aluminium, cast metal, thread jute or glass, there is an acceptability about costume jewellery that simply did not exist a decade ago.

"Accessories" is a very broad term. It can be classified into some specific heads such as: jewellery, bags, shoes, scarves, pins and brooches, belts, and hats/caps. Increase in demand for accessories has led to mushrooming of accessory industries and predominantly the costume jewellery industry in India.

Necklaces constitute of multiple ropes and chains hinged together with decorative plates and pins. Long strands are strung with hand-crafted pendants, glass beads and beaten metal medallions. Beads, wood, shells, amber and bone are strung into multiple mix necklaces.

Wrist bands in macrame, ribbon ties with stones and bracelets of irregular shapes in wood and glass are coordinated with neckpieces. Earrings are mostly free form drops in stone, glass, wood or metal. Artist-inspired, mosaic style perforations or vegetable motifs make pierced earrings, clips and hoops.