Women Who Inspire Us; Amy Devan on Reinvention, Resilience, and the Rebirth of NAVEDA

Part 1: Her Story & Brand Philosophy

Could you start by telling us a little about your personal journey and what inspired you to create NAVEDA?

Amy: I’ve loved jewelry for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, I’d watch my mom get ready for work – her perfectly tailored power suit, bold burgundy lip, pointed-toe pumps, and the most iconic jewelry of the 80s and 90s. I was literally in awe. To this day, she stacks multiple rings on almost every finger. It’s so her, and so chic! 

My Indian heritage also influenced this love for jewelry and artistry. In South Asian culture, girls are considered goddesses of the home, so jewelry is often gifted and passed down from generation to generation to mark every milestone in her life. And so I’ve always seen jewelry as a piece of our story and our identity as women.

Fast forward to years later, after grad school, I worked in the corporate marketing space for almost a decade before finally following my childhood dream of creating and building a business. So I left my career, moved to NYC, and studied design at Parsons. And as I was finishing up that program, I started designing. 

Maybe it was the right place, right time, or maybe it was just meant to be all along, but the universe gave me this huge opportunity – NAVEDA launched on the runway during New York Fashion Week! Such a pinch-me moment!

At the time, our focus was women’s ready-to-wear and bespoke bridal and evening wear. But even then, I couldn’t help myself and I designed jewelry to complete every single look. Those pieces eventually became the soul of the brand. 

To this day, customers who’ve been with me since the beginning still ask about some of those early pieces, from the edgy but elegant onyx and gold jewels, the intricate metalwork bags, to our hand-embellished gowns that took hundreds of hours to make but a team of artisans. 

A few years later, everything changed when life pulled me through some transformative chapters. I had no choice but to pause everything. 

For a while, I didn’t think I’d ever get back to who I was before any of it. Now, looking back, I can see so clearly how those experiences reshaped how I understood beauty, strength, resilience – and design too.

Skip to two years ago, I moved back to the NYC area and decided to rechannel all the tough things in life into NAVEDA. The mission became more than just making beautiful pieces, it became about healing forward and hopefully helping other women do the same. 

But to do that in the way I envisioned, the brand needed to be completely torn apart and then starting fresh. In time, that led to not just a rebrand, but a major rebirth. 

It was and still is so freeing when I think about it – like letting go of all that no longer serves you and rebuilding on your own terms. 

I took from all the lessons, threw out what didn’t make sense anymore and truly started over. Now, NAVEDA is centered around my first creative love, and something that feels like home, jewelry and accessories. 

Our pieces are designed for women who already know who they are. They’re sculptural, intentional, artful, and sit at the juxtaposition of unexpected minimalism and expression – for every version of herself. 

Effortlessly cool. Sensual but sharp. Curated but never overdone. NAVEDA doesn’t tell her who to be, it reflects who she already is.

Your background in public health is so unique for a designer. How does that experience inform your work and your perspective on the fashion industry? - Amy: Please note, I do not have a background in public health (not sure where that may have been pulled from). 

Part 2: The Collaboration's Origin

• What first drew you to ABLE? What was your initial impression of the brand and its mission?
• Collaboration is about synergy. What do you feel NAVEDA brings to ABLE, and what does ABLE bring to NAVEDA in this partnership?
• What was the "spark" that made both brands say 'yes' to working together on this specific project?
  

Amy: A wonderful family friend introduced Misti and me earlier this summer, and from our very first conversation, the collaboration just made sense. There was an instant alignment, not just in aesthetics, but in how both brands see women, their stories, and the kind of work that deserves to be supported. 

ABLE’s commitment to creating real opportunities for resilient women felt incredibly genuine, and that really mattered to me.

Both brands are deeply rooted in artisanal craft. ABLE with its jewelry team in Nashville, and NAVEDA rooted in the artistry I grew up around. NAVEDA brings a sculptural design lens focused on connection and the human experience. 

ABLE brings purpose, community and a deep deep care for uplifting women. Together, we’ve figured out a way to blend creativity with impact. 

Part 3: The Creative & Design Process

• Could you walk us through the core inspiration for the collaboration piece? What story did you want to tell?
• How did you approach merging NAVEDA's intricate, colorful style with ABLE's more classic, grounded aesthetic? What was that creative process like? - Please see response below; not sure either brand is “colorful” per se. Each has a unique perspective, but there’s a lot of common ground. I’ve answered this question with that in mind.
• Were there any specific materials, techniques, or motifs from your heritage that were particularly important for you to include in this design?

Amy: Both brands share a grounded aesthetic – tonal palettes and gold and silver metals. But the balance comes from how differently we approach minimalism. 

ABLE has this classic yet modern ease about it that’s relaxed but sophisticated, while NAVEDA leans into sculptural elevation with pieces that carry art, edge, and intentional storytelling.

Together, we create a kind of minimalism that has depth and feels lived-in, but also expressive at the same time.

Part 4: Shared Values & Mission

• Both ABLE and NAVEDA have a deep respect for artisan craftsmanship. Why is preserving and celebrating the work of artisans so important to you?
• ABLE’s mission is to advance the economic self-sufficiency of women. How does this collaboration align with your own personal values and the mission you've built with NAVEDA?
• What does creating "fashion with purpose" mean to you, and how does this collaboration embody that idea?
  

Amy: For me, artisanal work has always felt personal. I love that handcraft is how stories are shared. There’s a real soul to pieces, especially jewelry. You can feel it. And that’s exactly where ABLE and NAVEDA meet. We both truly care about the women behind the work – their craft, their journey. That shared respect is a big part of why this collaboration works so well! 

Part 5: The Final Piece & The Wearer

• What is the one detail in the final product that you are most proud of or excited about?
• How do you envision women styling and incorporating this piece into their lives? 
• What feeling do you hope it gives them when they wear it?
• Beyond a beautiful product, what do you hope this collaboration communicates to the customers of both brands?

Amy: If you look closely at our collection, you’ll see fluidity and movement. You’ll also see that our artisans, ABLE’s amazingly talented jewelry team, have used a hammered technique that creates natural and intentional notches, texture and imperfections. 

It makes me genuinely happy and excited to see customers appreciate those details because they represent our resilience and strength as women. 

As we reflect back on whatever happened in life, we realize the universe had a bigger plan we couldn’t see in the moment. 

But none of it was random, and nothing about the way we move through the world is either. it was all By Design. I hope anyone who wears these pieces is reminded of that. 

Amy Devan

Founder + Creative Director, NAVEDA 

URL: houseofNAVEDA.com

IG handles: @houseofNAVEDA   |   @amydevan