Nepal, Feb. 7 -- Aksa (pronounced Ak-shaw) is a Sanskrit word meaning 'the soul' and the designs of the recently launched brand Aksa Nepal reflect this, which as one of the founders, Priyanka Rai Shrestha, says reflects the soul of the person who wears it. Aksa is a jewelry brand that mostly makes jewelry using brass and precious stones. The brand, launched late December last year, aims to promote local artisans and artists, in turn preserving and promoting the culture of Nepali craft.

The founders of Aksa, Priyanka and her partner, Aakash Shrestha, claim that they had been discussing the concept of Aksa for six months before finally planning to launch the brand. Both Priyanka and Aakash have a diverse background-Priyanka is a double gra...