The scope for creativity is in no way going to get frozen if one’s resolve is rock solid. It’s like a transcendent force turning the impossible into possible. It drives one to achieve sometimes even the ‘unexpected things’ in life. And looking at the Los Angeles-based Loree Rodkin’s high-profile life, there is no denying that she is a woman of great caliber.

To start with, she is solely responsible for designing grand houses of famous rockstars like Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart and a host of other rock personalities. Then, she emerged as a highly influential artist manager guiding and nurturing the careers of today’s Hollywood megastars like Brad Pitt, Robert Downey and Sarah Jessica Parker when they were counted in the category of the unknowns.

However, destiny had another plan in store for her. In an exclusive interview with Arab News, she dishes out what it was and how she made it a huge success.

Jewelry was what intrigued her a lot when she was six-year-old. And ultimately it culminated into a lifelong calling that she wanted to go all-out for. So with the intention of learning the craft of making fine jewelry with all its uniqueness, she chose to study under a master craftsman who worked for Cartier. More or less, the immense scope of accessorizing drew her to the charm of jewelry. “This is the thing that makes you uniquely different as a person,” she says.

She prides herself in the fact that she was the first person to create a fashion forward style of jewelry that didn’t exist before. “It gave celebrities a great form of self-expression,” states Rodkin. “They simply got smitten by my designs’ splendor.”

Interestingly, the first client to wear her exquisite pieces was none other than the renowned actress of the old Hollywood Elizabeth Taylor. She considers herself lucky enough to have worked with all of her favorite muses from Steven Tyler to Madonna. “I find Steven Tyler and Elizabeth Taylor amazing and the Queen of Pop inspiring,” she says.

Besides, Elton John and Cher are the other two famous patrons of her jewelry. But the biggest moment for Loree came when the First Lady Michelle Obama sought to wear jewelry designed by her during the 2009 Inaugural Ball ceremony. “It seemed like I was dreaming when the White House first called me for this honorable service. I thought they called the wrong person,” she recalls. “I feel extremely blessed that those designed pieces of mine now reside in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.”

When it comes to pinning down what type of jewelry women want, she thinks they look for something that speaks to them and makes them feel special. “My clients range from 20s to 80s. My products are for anyone who doesn’t want to look like anyone else,” she says.

Behind the creations of these magnificent designs lies a great deal of her intuition inspired by architecture and nature and most importantly her unmatched expertise as to using diamonds, platinum, gold and precious stones. “Wherever I go, the first thing that I do is look for architectural wonders. Their intricate designs just engulf my heart and soul,” she expresses. “And nature itself is very diverse with millions of species of all sorts.”

She tries every design on herself first before she thinks it is perfect enough to be commissioned. “I design around stones. I design for myself and what appeals to me and luckily that has been appealing to other people too which I find very rewarding,” she says.

Being familiar with every minute aspect of jewelry making, she has got the edge over others competing in the same field as she puts it, “I have a design philosophy through which I create such invaluable pieces — if it’s never been before, I can do it.”

As her brand makes its presence felt in the Arab world, she is quite upbeat about the market here. “I feel Middle Eastern women is a new clientele for me and they are thrilled to know that what I offer doesn’t look like anything else they’ve had before,” she exudes.

Moreover, it’s a whole new thing to compare Western women’s taste in jewelry with that of their Arab counterparts. “I would say that Arab women prefer white diamonds and more classical stones whereas the Western women may be a little more adventurous with their free spirit tendency.”

She shuns the notion of having a five year plan let alone a five minute plan. Why? Because she finds it off-putting! For Loree, it’s wherever the day takes her in terms of design.

With the addition of eyewear, fragrance and handbags, she has pumped up the brand portfolio. “I hope someday to do home pieces and furniture as well. The door is always open,” she asserts.

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