Biography
A change from tropical exuberance to nordic chill...
Monika was born January 1957 in Essen, Germany.
In 1975 she finished her Higher Secondary, followed by 2 years of studying History of Art, Philosophy and French language at the Wilhelms-Universität in Münster. She also started participating in workshops, learning about forging and other techniques relating to metal crafting.
Between 1977 and 1981 Monika joined a jewellery/watch company and was in charge of their branch shop. In 1981 she started a 4-year diploma course in a goldsmith's workshop and at the same time joined a technical school. Shortly after receiving her diploma in 1984 Monika emigrated to India, married and settled down in Kalkutta.
Soon after arriving in India she established her own workshop.
For the next 15 years she designed and manufactured designer jewellery for individual customers in a hithero unknown fashion, blending successfully oriental exuberance with western understatement, using western techniques and material combinations, always having in mind the specific needs of her customers.
She was chief designer and consultant for Indian jewellery companies, and as production supervisor worked closely with Indian mastercraftsmen. In collaboration with one of the largest jewellery companies in Calcutta she was the first to design a range of ornaments of western design adapted to the Indian taste and lifestyle. This jewellery collection had her name as a brand name.
With the increasing demand of the industry for trained jewellery designers she started holding design classes, often taking over students from NIFT, the National Institute for Fashion Technology.
She settled in Sweden in 1999 and opened her own studio in Jönköping.
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Portrait for printed media (1,4 MB, JPEG-format)