The 1980's saw the advent of culturally-inspired jewelry taking center stage in the fashion world.  In the U.S., costume jewelry on the runways and on women everywhere, accessories from India were a major trend. Raga was one jewelry designer who utilized the unique aspects of a different culture in his designs.  Drawing on the traditional adornments worn by women in India, Raga made costume jewelry for American women starting in 1982.  Raga imported a significant amount of jewelry, beads, and design ideas from India during this time, and the runways of the early 80’s reflect this exchange of cultural ideas. 
     Raga’s founder became interested in fashion and after a short stint in the  garment field, he turned his interest to designing accessories based on the traditional intricate, ornate jewelry worn by women in India.  Raga used traditional Indian handcrafting techniques and materials to create jewelry for the American market. 
     Jewelry that was already popular on the American runway at the time, like big beads, long multiple strands, bangles, and chandelier earrings, were already slightly reminiscent of the traditional jewelry worn in India.  However, traditional Indian craftsmanship was far more intricate and time consuming to produce, using hand-beaded methods and complicated beadwork.  But Raga wanted to mass produce.  Therefore, designs were made that integrated the essence of Indian design, but would take less time to make.  Raga knew that crystals, translucent boldly colored beads, and natural materials like wood and shell  were a contrast to the bright plastics being used by American jewelry designers at the time, so Raga got creative in order to appeal to the masses. He tweaked Indian tradition, using chunkier beads and geometric shapes yet retaining the color schemes, dark metals, and overall shape of traditional Indian jewelry: a hybrid was born.  For example, bangles (which actually originated in India several thousand years ago) were treated to a funky spin by Raga, who widened the size and molded  the shape into geometric "80's" shapes. This would appeal to the American consumer, but be different enough to warrant attention. Raga used lots of  darkly metallic shades like brass instead of garish bright metals, and wood and bone-like material instead of obvious plastics.  They substituted opaque neon beads so popular for the American mall girl with bold transluscent beads of India, but fattened them up to keep to the chunky beading trends.
     Currently, Raga, Inc. makes and provides jewelry to designers and private clients on a smaller scale. The prices of Raga pieces have remained surprisingly stagnant over the years since their 1980’s debut; costs have stayed at $15-16 to around $32 for store-bought items, and the high end pieces (used for runway designers or certain higher end department stores) range from $60-70.  Raga, Inc. retains showrooms in New York City and in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
     Given the current surge of Bollywood movie appreciation in the U.S. and the chunky jewelry trend revival of the past year, Raga and similar Indian vintage costume jewelry is a hip throwback as well as a contemporary fashion “do.”

In the 1970s, jewelry manufacturer Kim Craftsmen pioneered a look in body jewelry that remains popular today. Bracelets to be worn around the upper arm-- metallic wraps, that look almost serpent-like, were designed in multiple styles, shapes, and finishes.
     One can see why the upper arm bracelets were so popular back in the 70s-- although Kim did not intentionally emulate any specific movies or actresses, looking back, we can see that they were right on target with the trends. Some compare the metallic look of the bracelets to Wonder Woman (who saw her commercial heydey in the 70s), and also to the Cleopatra look that, thanks to the Liz Taylor movie, made body jewelry a desirable look. These bracelets were hand bended from copper by Kim Craftsmen, and then plated in silver and gold plating, which were the most popular, and also occasionally in other finishes like bronze.
     Kim's experimentation with body jewelry was creative and bold, and they even made things like metal belts and bras. They would then tone down this look for the eveyday woman, making "cleaner" versions of the body jewelry, which resulted in the upper arm bracelets, as well as similarly Egyptian-look brass collars.
     Carl Schimel, co-founder of Kim, said that these bracelets were popular, fun, and "looked great on a sunburn." Summery and attractive on any skin tone, these pieces draw attention to the woman, and make a statement-- even start a conversation. Unusual and innovative back in the 70s, these upper arm bracelets remain a unique accessory today. Vintage pieces tell a story, and wearing one of these Kim bracelets adds a fresh flair to your summer look.