-
Our People
Together, everyone achieves more.
Studio Rêves is rightly renowned for its inimitable technology. However, that what commenced as a small home-run business has grown into the large enterprise envisioned, is credited primarily to its people.
First-generation jewellers, the Menda brothers, Dheeraj, Niraj and Anuj are the third generation of their maternal family to trade in precious-stones. With familial roots in the Lakhi Group (a DTC sightholder diamond manufacturing and trading company based in BKC, Mumbai), they found strong mentors in their maternal uncles, who taught them the ins-and-outs of the diamond industry, and are their "go-to" support for big decisions, to this day.
All three brothers are Directors and equally involved with marketing and sales. Responsible for long-term strategy of the Company, Dheeraj chalks out its new destinations; In charge of technology and operations, Niraj designs the ship to get there; Responsible for HR and manufacturing processes, Anuj gets everyone at the Company to row the boat!
Sisters, Krsna Lakhi Kalra and Prerna Lakhi Bakshi also guide in different areas of the business – Krsna with marketing, merchandising and design advise ; Prerna with promotion ideas in some international markets.
Anuj's wife Kanishka Menda, an award-winning jewellery designer is an integral part of the jewellery designing process of the brand. She was also involved with merchandising, design and product development.
What started out as a tiny manufacturing business with 2 craftsmen working at the Mendas' residence organically and eventually grew to a greater team. Establishing firm base in the wholesale market before changing strategic direction.
Diamonds in Our DNA
Dheeraj, the eldest brother, is the strategic and financial thinker. He has stayed in a small town in Gujarat to learn diamond cutting, spent time in Belgium while diamond trading and lived in the Far East to hone his marketing skills. He spent a decade travelling around India, meeting wholesalers and speciality buyers, promoting their jewellery through the Nakshatra brand and later under their own brand, Studio Revês. Now, with an established brand and an award winning line of fine jewellery, Dheeraj spends time with clients who visit their Bombay office and travels to display Studio Revês’ products at international festivals. His philosophy is based on his personal experience; success comes with hard work, a hands on approach, willingness to try new things and ability to learn from mistakes.
Niraj is the free-spirited artist of the family. He spurned formal education, preferring to grow by experimentation and hands-on experience. A master at backward engineering, he can look at a finished product or design and decipher how it will come together, in terms of both inputs and process. His eye for detail has proved invaluable in setting and maintaining quality standards. He was instrumental in designing and setting up a ten thousand square feet, state of the art jewellery manufacturing facility in Mumbai. His belief and insistence on technology has helped Grand Lifestyles ensure consistency and finesse in mass market and fine jewellery. The mantra that keeps him constantly exploring and learning – recognize your weakness and find someone/something to fill that gap and turn it into a strength.
Anuj, the youngest brother, may have joined the business last, but he has played an instrumental role in keeping manufacturing on track while his elder brothers explored and experimented. His operational excellence facilitated growth in volumes without compromising quality. He has set up process checks to ensure that each single component is done correctly before it moves on to the next process. All teams collaborate to create finesse, encompassing geometry and construction of the entire piece, from ease of viewing and wearing to ease of cleaning and maintaining it. His empathy and belief in the value of people enabled him to carry the team along as the company grew and transformed. His time in North America exposed him to a different work culture. This experience laid the foundation for his belief that if you empower, skill and trust people they will deliver their best.
Their strategic, technical and operational skills have converged to transform a micro enterprise into a reputed jewellery manufacturer and wholesaler, and onwards to an international fine jewellery brand.
