Meet Sarah Sidharta of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Sidharta.

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I could have never imagined I would be making jewelry today. It wasn’t something that I thought of doing from a young age. It has been a pleasant surprise. I studied fashion design, worked in textile design and became a make-up artist. After that I worked in the tech industry. Working in the corporate world gave me more financial stability, but I always felt something was missing.

One day at a local market, I came across a mala bead. Holding that mala reminded me of my young adulthood, when I studied the teachings of Buddha and the Daoist way of life – to live in balance and harmony with the natural flow of the universe. As a teen I wanted to apply this mindset into something but didn’t know how. I went for years not knowing what I wanted to do in life. But at this moment, something sparked in me to start making jewelry. It gives me joy, and one creation led to another and I eventually founded Aurnatrix jewelry.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth in a way that the idea and creation unfolded naturally. Every piece I make takes design planning and time, from sourcing the stones to its ultimate crafting. It is challenging to manage the entire business operation alone while working another full time job. I found myself having to work on my passion projects in the evenings and weekends, so things didn’t move as quickly as I would have liked. It can feel discouraging at times, but I’ve worked long hours working through the night to keep the vision alive and my love for the creative process makes it worthwhile.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create hand knotted beaded toggle necklaces that you won’t find anywhere else.

What sets my jewelry apart is a process that requires one to be highly meticulous. I look at every detail of the stones and choose the best quality with a unique color play and matrix. The combination of stones has to feel right together and have the perfect balance of beauty and crystal energy. Each knot has to be done correctly. It takes uninterrupted time and patience to knot each one. I infuse the Hindu tradition while in this zone and recite the OM mantra when applying the knot. I do this with the intention to purify, clear the negative energies and imbue the highest frequency so that whoever wears the necklace receives the same. This is also a way for me to keep the tradition alive and respect the spiritual significance of making a mala into my modern jewelry.

I only make between 2-5 necklaces per design. A lot of the stones I find are made in small batches so the quantity is limited, exclusive and special to own.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory was spending time at the beach with a dear friend, whose mother rented a house by the beach town one summer. It was just like an 80s teenage movie flick. There were no cell phones, it was just us girls being together at the beach all day, walking around the pier at night, listening to music and kind of being completely unsupervised. I remember walking on the beach at night and almost being swallowed by an unexpected big wave. We ran as fast as we could laughing. It is a memory when things were simple, fun and what we did was an adventure.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aurnatrix.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurnatrix/

Image Credits
Profile Pic + Model Pic with scarf – Photo by Marta Elena Vassilakis