Padma Lakshmi's vision as a jewelry designer is as eclectic as her life and her work. Born in India, but raised between both India and the US, Lakshmi has lived in France, Spain, and spent much of her 20's in Italy. All of these places have influenced her work; her designs are most notable for bridging the gap between East and West. "I love the rich heritage and beauty of traditional Indian jewelry, but I wanted something more modern and delicate. I also wanted to create something that women would love to wear everyday; pieces that work with jeans and cocktail dresses, jewelry that highlights the myriad sides of a woman's personality without upstaging her."

Padma takes inspiration from shapes found in nature. "In hunting for the most precious spices, I found the shapes of seeds and pods exquisite, a purity of proportion and form that had an inherent sensuality to them." Lakshmi has borrowed from her native culture by introducing a hand piece that is unique yet remarkably wearable. She also introduces a micro collection entitled 'the Nav'. This line is based on the ancient Hindu philosophy of balancing a person's life force (prana or chi) by wearing a collection of 9 specific stones (the navaratna) that represent and harness the energies of 9 planets to the greatest benefit. Lakshmi has made wearing this energetically protective talisman modern, sleek and elegant.

In May 2009, Lakshmi launched her namesake line of fine jewelry, "PADMA" at Bergdorf Goodman in New York. The collection of over 40 pieces consists of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings retailing approximately between $300 and $6,000, in both 10 and 14 carat gold with precious and semi-precious stones. "All the pieces have some form of movement, designed to dance on the skin and enhance the femininity of the female form." For example, her 'front to back' necklace adorns a woman's back as much as her décolleté, cascading down the neck on both sides.

Padma Lakshmi has had a successful career in fashion as a model for over a decade. She has appeared in film and television projects in the US, Italy and India, utilizing her global sense of taste in the food world. She is an award winning author of two books as well as a presenter and documentarian, hosting Padma's Passport and Planet Food, for the Food Network and Discovery channels. Most recently, she is the host of Bravo's Emmy nominated Top Chef. Lakshmi has contributed to magazines such as Gourmet, and Food and Wine, and has written extensively on fashion for The New York Times syndicate, Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. "For me, whether its food or fashion, it's about taste; about curating the best of what I've hunted and gathered from around the world to create something beautiful for the senses."

Available at Bergdorf Goodman, BergdorfGoodman.com, Neiman Marcus Tysons Corner, Neiman Marcus San Francisco, NeimanMarcus.com, Mitchells of Westport, Richards in Greenwich and Marshs of Huntington.