[Exclusive Interview] Gargi by PNGS – Marrying Tradition with Contemporary Elegance

Decoding the glittering tapestry of time: A journey of nearly two centuries across Indian jewellery landscape

The allure of Indian jewellery needs no introduction. At the heart of the illustrious jewellery landscape in the country lies an iconic brand with a legacy dating back to 1825 – P N Gadgil and Sons (PNGS). Through the annals of time, this esteemed brand has witnessed changes across the Indian cultural landscape, embraced evolving trends, and garnered invaluable insights that have stood the test of time. As a brand renowned for master craftsmanship for discerning Indian customers, PNGS has been a glowing symbol of quality and trust over the years. 

Remaining as innovative and dynamic as ever, the brand has turned a new leaf by providing impetus to Gargi by PNGS. This young and vibrant brand aims to preserve the heritage and pave the way for a stylish future. Guided by the dynamic Mr. Aditya Modak, the co-founder of Gargi by PNGS, the new brand has intertwined contemporary style with the timeless essence of traditional craftsmanship. 

Join us as we delve into the captivating narrative of Gargi by PNGS, an exquisite blend of heritage, innovation, and aspirations, striving to redefine India’s fashion jewellery landscape. Here we are in conversation with the co-founder Aditya Modak himself.

Over the course of nearly two centuries, what insights has the brand gained?

Since its inception in 1825, PN Gadgil and Sons (PNGS) has been a shining beacon of excellence in the Indian jewellery industry. The brand has nearly two centuries of experience, enabling it to hone its craft and acquire valuable insights about unmatched cultures and changing trends. Today, the brand enjoys a cherished bond with generations of customers. Throughout the years, PNGS has embraced the changing trends seamlessly and catered to the preferences of Indian consumers, an ability that has fostered a deep understanding of the market dynamics. 

With the evolution of fashion jewellery, it was felt that there was a humongous market gap when it came to high-quality fashion jewellery products in the country. While names like PNGS have had stellar products to cater to the discerning gold and diamond jewellery buyers, the market for everyday jewellery remained ignored. Fashion jewellery commonly found in the market often lacks quality workmanship and innovative designs. We wanted to tap the segment where consumers were looking for more and didn’t find the right products. That’s the area we decided to tap into by leveraging the long-standing market presence and brand ethos of PNGS and creating a new entity with solid customer relationships. That’s where Gargi by PNGS has emerged as a mass-market brand with the legacy of a stalwart that consistently caters to discerning buyers. 

How have long-standing brands such as PNG & Sons evolved, and what transformations have they undergone during their journey?

PNGS has been on a transformative path throughout its journey, adapting to changing times and taking new challenges in its stride. The brand’s evolution reflects its ability to strike a balance between heritage and contemporary sensibilities. Over the years, the brand has continuously expanded its offerings and introduced new designs and styles to fulfill the diverse needs of the ever-growing customer base.

We identified incredible potential in this arena with the emergence of the fashion jewellery segment and the rise of imitation jewellery. Witnessing the segment’s lack of structure and standardization, we decided to take a path-breaking step by establishing a high-quality formal label in the market. That’s how Gargi by PNGS came into being, and the brand now represents a fusion of traditional expertise with modern sensibilities.

Tell us about the formation of Gargi and the offerings for the new generation, the brand culture, ethos, and the new segment.

Named after the ancient Indian female scholar Gargi, the brand embodies a vivacious blend of contemporary style with timeless craftsmanship. Gargi represents modern femininity and offers a diverse range of exquisite Sterling silver and brass jewellery catering to the tastes of young consumers. The new segment of premium fashion jewellery is carved to provide our customers with the assurance of quality and authenticity, the hallmarks of the PNGS brand.

The brand culture at Gargi focuses on celebrating individuality and self-expression. The pieces we craft are designed to capture the essence of modern women, empowering them to embrace their uniqueness and confidence. Gargi embraces innovation, creativity, and experimentation, enabling the customers to make bold fashion statements and feel proud of their choices. These qualities of Gargi’s products make them stand out from the typical fashion jewellery items and make the customers feel as happy and attached to their Gargi products as they would think about their gold/diamond jewellery items from PNGS, the parent brand. 

We operate online through various retail channels such as Amazon and offline through PNGS stores, franchise outlets, and Gargi’s exclusive brand stores. We recently opened an exclusive showroom on FC Road, Pune, and have partnered with Shoppers Stop to expand the brand’s outreach to the audience. 

To conclude, Gargi by PNGS exemplifies the finest blend of tradition, innovation, and customer-centricity in the market. The nearly 200 years of domain experience and the vision to transform the fashion jewellery segment enable Gargi to create an indelible impression on the Indian jewellery landscape. The brand is set to continue strongly to capture the hearts of the modern generation with its exquisite designs and commitment to unparalleled quality.