From art studios in Bandra and Kandivli to cafés in Ghatkopar and Kanjur, Mumbai’s latest weekend obsession is bedazzling. Armed with rhinestones and crystals, people are turning everything into glittering works of art.SOCIAL MEDIA’S SPARKLY OBSESSION“The moment I post a bedazzling workshop, the slots are gone. It is, without doubt, the fastest-growing category of late,” says Priyam Katakia Gandhi of Art Nook, who has seen demand soar over the past few months. She credits social media for fuelling the trend. “Every second reel is someone customising something with crystals. People don’t just want to watch it, they want to make it themselves and post their own version.” Her participants range from college students to working professionals in their thirties and forties, looking for a stress-buster. “Bedazzling doesn’t discriminate by age,” she adds.MORE THAN JUST A CRAFTFor many, the appeal goes beyond creating something sparkly. “These days people are so stressed out, so a workshop like this is perfect for them to unwind. It’s part craft, part therapy, part Instagram moment,” says Bushra Khan of The Artistic Escape. “Placing tiny rhinestones one by one requires focus. Your phone is away, mind quietens down, and before you know it, you’ve created something beautiful.”NO ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE NEEDEDThe ease of the craft is another reason behind its popularity. Rohanshi Manek of Gossip Glue, who recently conducted a workshop in Kandivli, says participants simply walk in with a plain canvas and leave with a dazzling piece of art. “You don’t need any prior art background and yet you can create something beautiful. Even a first-timer leaves with something they can proudly display.”A HOBBY FOR EVERY GENERATIONThe workshops are also attracting a surprisingly diverse audience. “It’s not just Gen Z, millennials and even boomers are signing up,” say Khushi Shah of Kya Scene Bedazzle Workshop. “Participants are first taught how to use the wax pad and applicator to place rhinestones neatly to creat their art, which they take home in a display frame,” she says. Instructor Vidhi Karatra adds, “It’s a low-pressure activity that almost everyone is able to complete,” they say.CREATIVITY WITHOUT THE LUXURY PRICE TAGFor participants, the appeal lies in both self-expression and affordability. “A crystal-studded sneaker or a bedazzled phone case says something about you that a store-bought item never can,” says Karan Mehta, who recently attended a customisation workshop. “Compared to buying a designer embellished piece, doing it yourself costs a fraction of the price, and you get bragging rights because you made it.” With workshops now popping up across the city, from Paintology in Dadar and Beautiful Hues in Khar to independent creators hosting pop-ups in cafés, Mumbai’s love affair with a little extra sparkle shows no signs of fading.BEDAZZLE THESE
- Phone cases
- Tumblers
- Tote bags
- Sneakers
- Denim jackets
- Caps
- Photo frames
- Trinket boxes
- Coasters
- Canvas wall hangings
