India, May 1 -- During her visit to Mumbai last week, Barbadian singer Rihanna opted for monochrome Mugler and Alaia looks, styling both with diamond haathphools by Manish Malhotra.

Literally translating to 'flower of the hand, traditional haathphool designs covered the entire hand. Today, however, these accessories show restraint with single-ring formats, finer chains, asymmetrical patterns, and mixed materials such as sterling silver and modular components.

Akanksha Arora, CEO of Tribe Amrapali, says that this shift is about prioritising accessories rather than their emotional weight: "A haathphool now is less about occasion and more about the wearer. It can signal nostalgia, individuality, or personal link."

Function is central. Det...