Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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Belcourt of Newport, the 60-room mansion will open this summer to the public. It has been blessed by her shaman and will swing open its ornate front doors for tours, art galleries, and special events. "As the new steward, I feel blessed to take care of this Rhode Island icon, to grow the business, and give it all the love and attention it needs to show its true beauty and history." Then, there's the winery—a 170-acre vineyard in Little Compton, Rhode Island, now called Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard, which she pur- chased last year. There will be wine tours, tastings, and concerts, among many other events. If you prefer an espresso, well, Rafaelian has taken care of that for you, too. She bought the Teas and Javas franchise, which has cafés in Cranston, Newport, and Providence. Call it an empire, or just call it Carolyn Rafaelian, who's on a mission to make herself part of the cultural fabric of Rhode Island and to send her neighbors the positive energy that's woven into her jewelry brand's DNA. What began as a wire ban- gle jewelry line named after her two eldest daughters has boomed into a national brand valued at well over $230 mil- lion, capturing a cultlike fol- lowing of customers from 8 to 80 years old. In less than a decade, Rafaelian's Alex and Ani has grown by a staggering 365 percent, giving rise to more than 40 retail locations, including one on Newbury Street, and a robust philanthropic arm. Still, this Renaissance woman doesn't measure her success in dollars, but rather breaks it down into big-picture denominations. "If God were running a company, what would it be like? What would it feel like? What would it look like?" Rafaelian ask rhetorically, her eyes widening with each syllable. At first the objective seems lofty—disjointed, frankly— for a jewelry designer, but Rafaelian is quite serious. It's a life pursuit that began not far from where we're now sipping tea. Rafaelian was born in Rhode Island to first-generation Armenian Americans, Ralph and Lucy Rafaelian. In the mid- 1960s, Rafaelian's father opened Cinerama Jewelry in Providence, where he created patriotic jewelry that he sold to various fundrais- ing organizations. Before long, young Carolyn found her way into the jewelry factory, where she watched her father at work. Somewhere amid the tools and frenetic energy, Rafaelian's creativity took hold. Her imagination was inspired by her father, but her vision was all her own. The Alex and Ani collections are based on a single premise. Each bracelet is "infused with posi- tive energy" and designed around symbols or talis- mans of empowerment and protection. Rafaelian extends a finger to reveal a ring that she's been wearing for over a decade. It was a gift from a sha- man who is a dear friend of hers, and is imprinted with the Alantean symbol of protection. But her jewelry's impact on customers extends beyond symbolic empowerment. It has allowed her to support her beloved state of Rhode Island, too, which has struggled with low business rank- ings and high unemployment. She has made donations of $1 million each to Bryant University, Rhode Island College, and University of Rhode Island. In addition, as part of her Charity by Design program, Rafaelian collaborates with more than 135 nonprofits to raise money though the sale of signature bangles. The Hero brace- let, for instance, benefits the Hasbro Children's Hospital, where her daughters were born, with 20 percent of proceeds supporting children's health services there. Other Charity by Design causes include the Jimmy Fund, Toys for Tots, International Bird Rescue, and the National Autism Association. All told, Charity by Design has raised over $10 million since its inception. Rafaelian, of course, has only just begun. She plans to expand into an all-encompassing life- style brand, through beauty products, belts, and handbags. "I think that power and femininity, if you can put those two together, is literally the most enchanting thing that anybody can harmo- nize." With that, Carolyn Rafaelian has finished her tea, and is ready to get back to work. BC LEFT: Carolyn Rafaelian met the Dalai Lama in 2012. BELOW: She bought a 170-acre winery in Rhode Island last year. Symbols of protection adorn bracelets in Carolyn Rafaelian's Carnival and Caravans series. continued from page 43 44 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM VIEW FROM THE TOP 043-044_BC_SP_VFT_LateSpring14.indd 44 4/4/14 6:22 PM