100-year-old Rakodis and Art Deco bracelets: Inside the heirlooms worn by Chennai’s fashion-forward crowd

What gives an heirloom its power? Is it the craftsmanship behind a piece—the fine threadwork of a handwoven Kanchipuram sari or the artistry in a meenakari pendant, shining in vivid blues or pinks? Perhaps it’s the enduring beauty in the cut and clarity of a diamond tennis bracelet from the 1970s. Sometimes, it’s the story that travels with it, like a gold ring smuggled out during the Partition, carried across borders as the only thing of value. It can also just be the memory of the person who wore it before you—a grandmother’s ruby ring, her initials engraved inside the band, or an aunt’s silver bangle, worn daily until it oxidised. Most often, it’s all of the above.

At the Editor’s High Tea in Chennai—a prelude to the Vogue Wedding Atelier presented by HSBC—heirlooms were at the heart of the evening. Held at The Leela Palace Chennai and hosted by Rochelle Pinto, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue India, the gathering brought together some of the city’s most stylish crowd for a celebration of legacy. The setting, decorated with flowers by The A-Cube Project, blended tradition with luxury. Guests left with curated gifts—courtesy of Nicobar—and cherished memories.

Ahead, Chennai’s fashion-forward crowd tells Vogue India about their treasured heirlooms.

All images: Six Ways to Sunday