photo by Agapao Productions
Designer Carolyn Rafaelian, Alex and Ani’s owner and creative director, hails from a family of jewelers. She launched Alex and Ani in 2004, naming the company after her first two daughters and shortly after opened her first retail store in Newport. The company has since bloomed and now proudly offers numerous retail locations throughout the United States with international partners spanning the globe. The Alex and Ani line is anchored by a patented signature expandable wire bangle in which she adorns with meaningful charms that represent each wearer’s life purpose and individual spirit. All of her products and designs are eco-friendly and she is dedicated to maintaining an eco-conscious environment while utilizing green habits and producing products made in America. Through her philanthropic efforts of Alex and Ani’s Charity by Design division, Rafaelian focuses on working with organizations to raise awareness and inspire action.
What are the opportunities for girls and young women?
There are many opportunities that present themselves in the most unexpected ways. Young girls and women have the capability to truly express themselves and their identity by creating, developing or finding something they love and sticking with it. For me, I believe that my jewelry is living art, an adornment that can express the heart and soul of the wearer. When you design something that speaks value to yourself, you inspire others to do the same. Designing charms using sacred symbols, the most ancient of languages to reflect deeper principles and meaning, brings a dimension of spirituality to your daily life and in turn, to others.
I hope to inspire young women to not only share their experiences with others, but to create something unique they can share with the world. My goal is to encourage people to express themselves through jewelry as an illustration of their beliefs, while spreading the message of positive energy.
One of my core beliefs is giving back to the community, and I hope to inspire young women to do the same. Through Alex and Ani’s Charity by Design program, we raise awareness and funds for many important causes. While partnering with organizations like Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the National Autism Association, and Living Water, we design unique and inspiring charms, sells them through Alex and Ani retail, and donate a portion of the sales back to the organization. Charity by Design allows consumers to individualize their support for charitable causes by their purchases, hopefully inspiring a new generation of philanthropists.
My goal is to share my experiences with young women and encourage them to explore the world of endless possibilities. You never know what can come from a simple idea, and it’s important to always stay true to your beliefs! It’s how you inspire others to do the same and spread the positive energy.
