"Quantum Couture – Re-Engineering Beauty and Cultural Codes" is the theme of the Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2026 of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

Participants are invited to push boundaries, move beyond boxed thinking and convention, and create wearable art for a radically evolving world. Entry submissions will be accepted until February 10, 2026.

This year's awards programme has three sub-themes: Quantum Couture – Embroidery, Quantum Couture – Micro-Painting and Quantum Couture – Poetic Layers.

GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali said, "We are inviting the world to see India not just as a manufacturing hub, but as a global muse that blends Indian craft with modern techniques."

Ashish Borda, convener, Promotions & Marketing at GJEPC, added, ""Quantum Couture' is our answer to a shifting consumer landscape where Gen Z and Boomers alike seek jewellery that is fluid, inclusive and innovative."

For her part, Paola De Luca, futurist and curator of the Quantum Couture theme, emphasised the transformative nature of the concept. She said, "It is about re-engineering beauty and rewriting cultural codes for a new era. It draws from quantum practices, where creativity moves beyond the literal."

Established by GJEPC in 2014, the Artisan Awards aims to position India as a global design powerhouse.