Manifest Spotlight: Luxury Silverware Co-founder Akanksha Aggarwal

Luxury today is no longer about excess. It is about meaning, memory, and the pieces that endure long after the wedding lights fade. For Exclusively Yours, the silverware label co-founded by filmmaker-turned-entrepreneur Akanksha Aggarwal and her mother-in-law, Neena, every design is imagined as both an object of beauty and an heirloom in the making. 

Silver has always been part of Indian weddings. We explore with Akanksha how she is finding new meaning in contemporary gifting and decor. 

In 2009, the co-founder brought Sherle Wagner, a global leader in luxury home decor, to India, who curated design for royalty and elites.  Their collections, blending silver with marble, rose quartz, glass, and wood, are redefining what modern wedding silverware gifting can look and feel like.

We sat down with her for a conversation on heritage, craftsmanship, and why silver continues to be one of the most timeless gifts for brides and grooms today.

In Conversation with Akanksha Aggarwal of  Exclusively Yours

Manifest: What inspired you to build a luxury silverware brand, and how does your background influence the aesthetic of Exclusively Yours?

Akanksha Aggarwal: My inspiration came from a mix of two worlds, heritage and modernity. Growing up in a family with deep cinematic roots, I was always surrounded by beauty, design, and storytelling. When I transitioned from films to entrepreneurship, I wanted to create something equally expressive but lasting. Silver felt like the perfect medium: precious, timeless, and versatile. With Exclusively Yours, Neena and I wanted to bring that aesthetic sensibility to life by building a brand where traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary luxury.

M: Silver has always held an auspicious place in Indian weddings. What makes it such a timeless and meaningful gift for brides and grooms even today?

AA: Silver carries both cultural and emotional weight. In Indian weddings, it represents purity, prosperity, and blessings. But beyond tradition, silverware has a practical side, it is durable, functional, and beautiful. A bride and groom might receive many gifts, but silver becomes something they use, cherish, and eventually pass down. That continuity makes it timeless.

M: Modern brides are looking for unique, personalised details in their weddings. How is Exclusively Yours catering to this demand for customisation and design innovation?

AA: Today’s brides don’t want cookie-cutter gifts. They want pieces that reflect their story, their taste, and their future homes. At Exclusively Yours, we specialise in personalisation—engraving initials, motifs, or even family crests. We also create custom packaging to make the entire experience thoughtful. On the design front, we constantly innovate by blending silver with unexpected materials like marble, rose quartz, or wood, so each piece feels fresh, yet rooted in heritage.

M: If you had to curate a bridal silver trousseau, which pieces would every bride-to-be need?

AA: I would start with the essentials that balance utility and aesthetics: a puja thali set, a pair of silver Urlis or bowls for entertaining, and a statement piece like a diya or idol for their new home. Beyond that, tableware like cutlery or serving dishes is always a smart investment because it instantly elevates hosting and dining experiences. These pieces form the foundation of a silver trousseau that is both practical and deeply symbolic.

M: Your collections often blend silver with semi-precious stones, wood, and glass. How do you decide on these combinations, and what statement do they make in wedding décor and gifting?

AA: We approach design like storytellers. Every element should add a layer of meaning. Semi-precious stones like rose quartz bring in healing and love; wood adds warmth and grounding; glass lends lightness. Together, these materials create a dialogue with silver, making each piece unique. In weddings, these combinations bring richness to the décor and make gifts stand out as truly bespoke, not mass-produced.

M: How can couples planning a wedding use silverware to elevate their décor or entertaining experience?

AA: Silverware instantly adds grandeur. Imagine a wedding tablescape with silver Urlis filled with flowers, or custom-engraved silver bowls as return gifts—it creates a sense of timeless celebration. For their new homes, silver cutlery or centrepieces become conversation starters when entertaining. It is not just décor, it is a reflection of taste and legacy.

M: Luxury today is not only material but also about meaning and legacy. How does Exclusively Yours help couples create heirlooms they can pass down?

AA: We always design with longevity in mind. Our pieces are handcrafted, built to last, and designed to be relevant across generations. When you engrave a family name on a puja thali or gift a silver idol at a wedding, you are not just giving décor, you are creating a memory that future generations will hold onto. That is what true luxury is about: not excess, but enduring value and emotional connection.

M: Finally, what advice would you give to brides-to-be who want their wedding gifts and decor to feel both timeless and contemporary?

AA: My advice is to strike a balance between tradition and individuality. Choose wedding gifts that honour your roots but also speak to your personal style. Do not shy away from customisation—it is what makes something yours. And always invest in quality pieces that will travel with you through your new life, rather than items that are trend-driven. Timelessness is about creating memories, and contemporary design is about expressing who you are today.