When Madonna and Demi Moore looked for jewelry that was not only beautiful, but had a deeper purpose, they turned to Rachel Brown’s unique creations. This is Rachel Brown’s story. From the time she was a little girl, Rachel Brown saw the world as her jewelry box surrounding herself with beautiful things. “Great design and style has always been inspirational to me,” explains Brown, who has been known to jazz up Italian suits by placing fur trim around the lapel. Or she’ll design fabulous coats for Little Ricky, her beloved yorkie. As she explains, “the visual stimulation keeps me happy.” When she was in kindergarten, her family, who lived in Virginia, made regular blissful outings at Lord and Taylor in Washington, D.C. At the time, it was considered the city’s “it” store. “I used try on the most gorgeous and chic ice skating dresses,” she remembers. One was a hunter green wool material. “I can see the red, black and blue flower trim around the wrist, neck and pleats of the skirt. My mother bought it for me and still keeps it stored in the closet like a precious garment from the Costume Institute,” recalls Brown. “I remember wearing the most adorable full flouncy red skating skirt while I did the bunny hop and twirled on the ice.” She continued to nurture her passion for fashion and style living in Manhattan attending New York University. Brown would get decked out in treasured outfits like her Betsey Johnson green velvet cat suit to peruse the shops along Madison Avenue and devour the latest designer collections looking for inspiration. Although she took the practical route and majored in marketing, her soul was more Breakfast at Tiffany’s meets Coco Chanel than Wall Street. After graduation, Brown worked in the jewelry department at Christie’s. “I loved looking at the charm bracelets and seeing someone’s life on it – each one was special and fascinating,” explains Brown, who likens the jewels to old friends. “You could see the hand engravings from a woman’s lover and feel the energy of the person.” There were pins specially commissioned for prima ballerinas. “It was so exciting. It felt like I was in the middle of a fabulous movie,” she recalls. Dealers, countesses and princesses came to investigate the pieces.
“I felt so connected to the jewelry,” says Brown. “I often cried when a piece was gone. I couldn’t visit with it anymore.” To further understand the magic of the art form, she attended the prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA), to obtain her gemology degree. 14 years ago, Brown found the ultimate beauty in the wisdom of Kabbalah. “When I first started studying, I was so taken by the information. It clicked on a deep level, my world shifted. I began to use Kabbalistic meditations in my life,” offers Brown. Put most simply, through study and meditation, Kabbalah helps people see how they can live without chaos and provides a roadmap to the spiritual laws of the universe. “It shows that there’s a way to tap into the world beyond the five senses and what we can see,” says Brown. “Kabbalah guides those to enter a realm of peace, happiness, abundance and a feeling of well-being.” Brown began to envision combining her two great passions – jewelry and the study of Kabbalah. She longed to create pieces that had a breathtaking aesthetic appeal but also possessed an inner beauty and richness. The letters engraved on the pieces would connect to a spiritual energy and draw powers from the universe. But they would also be stunning. Brown imagined beautiful designer jewelry with a purpose – where the pieces would contain astrological signs tailored to wearer, bringing them blessings, protection, health, prosperity, and miracles.Created from her stylishly keen eye, caring soul and intuitive wisdom, Rachel Brown Jewelry was born. In this economy when people are turning to spiritual pursuits, these pieces really provide meaning. “I love that I’m able to connect the physical and spiritual world,” explains Brown. And you don’t have to study Kabbalah to enjoy the jewelry and benefit from its positive energy. “I have a special piece that is dedicated to helping someone attract a soul mate,” she offers. “There’s a certain mystery to it. But you can draw and connect with its positive energy like a magnet – whether you understand it or not.” Brown’s jewelry has inspired and touched many souls. Madonna wears a bronze circular pendant necklace. Demi Moore adores her black leather wrap cuff engraved with the 72 Names of God. Donna Karan cherishes her specially designed bronze cuff, also engraved with the 72 Names of God, which has an ancient feel.
In fact, Karan was so taken by the pieces that she featured Rachel Brown’s jewelry in her Urban Zen catalogues. Brown created a entire leather collection exclusive to Urban Zen. Also, Brown’s baubles are practical. She often uses brass, copper, and semi-precious stones rather than diamonds and gold. So the exquisite pieces aren’t ridiculously expensive. Yet Brown also has an exclusive high-end collection featuring gemstones like pearls, amethysts, onyx, and rubies. Always inspired by the world around her, Brown’s line continues to expand. In fact, she discovered some of her greatest pieces by accident. “One time, a piece was engraved too flat. It was lightly outlined. In my mind, I pictured it having more depth,” she explains. “It didn’t pop. And I wondered what I could do with the piece.” The misfire led her to an engraver who did a masterful technique called “diamond engraving.” “I would have never known about it otherwise,” says Brown. The sterling silver is engraved to look as if it’s emblazoned with tiny diamonds. “The original piece’s limitation was actually a blessing,” she offers. “It turned into something that I may have never envisioned. There is so much inspiration in the mistakes that I didn’t plan.”
Madonna's Pendant of Choice
Rachel Brown
Rachel Brown’s Kabbalah Inspired Jewelry Collection
I just had the pleasure of chatting with Rachel Brown and learning about her handcrafted jewelry. Rachel’s artisan pieces share a common theme although many of them are uniquely different. They carry a message that Brown will detail in our interview. Each piece is fascinating, creatively stylish and captures a symbolic meaning and a sense of harmony. We’re excited to share Rachel’s inspiration, her philosophy, her beautiful designs and her celebrity following which has garnered much attention in the press. I’m sure you’ll be totally in awe of Rachel’s refreshing and magical style. Rachel’s line of jewelry is based on the spiritual messages from the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah. “I love that I can connect other people to the wisdom of Kabbalah using my jewelry as a medium for achieving this goal.” 1. When did you begin designing jewelry? I began designing jewelry eight years ago when I realized the pain of not fulfilling my dream (creating my jewelry line) was greater than the pain of knowing I took the risk. If I didn’t take the risk, I’d always wonder “what if ” I didn’t follow my passion. It was my dream since I was a child, but I didn’t follow that path as I was afraid of failing. After many attempts, I finally had the courage to follow my passion and dreams. I started my business with three thousand dollars that I won gambling at a casino, began a grass-roots marketing plan, sold my jewelry piece by piece, client by client, always reinvesting everything I made. My business is now seven years old. I’ve put my heart and soul into making each piece of jewelry. I’m always thinking (and creating) outside the box. 2. Where do you get your inspiration? My passion for creating jewelry and being an artist in combination with my passion for my spiritual journey based on the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah is my inspiration. I’m inspired by other designers, magazines, fashion, and different environments. Everything inspires me on some level. Baking homemade apple pie for my dad even inspires me! Through my studies of Kabbalah, I began to use Kabbalistic meditations that were extremely powerful.
These ancient meditations composed of special Aramaic letter sequences helped me to create a spiritual structure in my life, bringing me a sense of well-being, peace of mind, happiness and confidence. I started to see images of jewelry with the Aramaic letters. I felt the need to create these images on bracelets, necklaces, and earrings…just to name a few. Wearing them reminded of the angels engraved on the pieces throughout my daily activities. I was so excited I was able to combine my spiritual studies and my artistic talents into a meaningful line of jewelry. 3. Can you give us a little background on Kabbalah? Kabbalah means “receiving”. The wisdom of Kabbalah is about how to receive everything we could need and want in our lives through the spiritual system that Kabbalah teaches. These spiritual laws of the universe take the soul through a journey toward ultimate fulfillment. Kabbalah is not a religion, but a set of values to adapt to your everyday life in order to reach one’s potential. 4. What type of person do you see wearing your jewelry? My jewelry is a collection that addresses and fills the gap of one’s emotional needs. By wearing a necklace or bracelet that emanate the energy of “healing”, “protection”, “unconditional love” or “dissolving negative energy”, my customers feel greater confidence and emotional fulfillment. I have a product transferring powerful spiritual messages. I love when people are happy with their jewelry and feel protected and healed by its power. 5. Do you have a signature piece? My signature piece is a bronze cuff that Donna Karan is currently wearing. I have several product lines in my collection…a core-basic line, a signature line, a couture-runway line, a one-of-a-kind collection and a line for dogs that should be launching soon. My prices begin at $115 and go as high as 8000 dollars. I invite you to view my website and see my different lines. I’m very proud of my signature line.
Each piece takes on the energy of the wearer and becomes an original, unique piece, as there are no manufacture’s sealants or chemicals used in the plating process to prevent oxidation. 6. Does your jewelry represent a philosophy? My jewelry is based on spiritual messages from the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah. All of my jewelry is engraved with Aramaic letter sequences that are angelic energies. My jewelry gives people strength, peace of mind and comfort to deal with everyday problems, hardships, and confusion. My jewelry addresses and fulfills the spiritual needs of people during this universal time of continuous chaos and uncertainty when people are seeking a sense of security. 7. Is your jewelry handmade? If so, are you involved in the process? Yes, my jewelry is handmade. I find the materials, work with engravers, polishers, casters, jewelers and platters. I put the pieces together using pliers and cutters. I prepare them as much as I can before they are finished by artisans. I apply all the finishing touches to each piece, creating different finishes and filing the rough edges. Sometimes late at night, I begin working on pieces using vintage chains, scraps of metal, charms and medallions. Things just have a way of designing themselves. 8. Do you need to be Jewish to wear Kabbalah Jewelry? Kabbalah is all about the spiritual laws of the universe and has nothing to do with Judaism or religion. It’s all about being spiritual and connecting the positive energies via the letter combinations engraved on the jewelry. It’s all about unity with all people of the world. 9. Who are your top three favorite designers? My favorite designers are Azzedine Alaia, Narcisco Rodriguez, and Victoria Beckham.
10. Do you have a celebrity following? If so…who? Yes, I do have a celebrity following. Madonna, Ashton Kutcher, and Donna Karan are some of the celebs that wear my pieces. They wear pieces from my Rachel Brown Jewelry Line, which is my couture, runway collection. All of these pieces are handcrafted one-of-a-kind or specially commissioned pieces. 11. Do you participate in a charity? A percentage of every sale goes to Spirituality for Kids, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to end suffering for vulnerable children around the world. Through highly effective spiritual lessons, SFK empowers and guides children to realize their purpose and potential in life. We wish to thank Rachel for this enlightening interview. Be sure and view Rachel Brown’s Collection at http://www.rachelbrownjewelry.com/ You can also email Rachel at: rachel@rachelbrownjewelry.com
The Wall Street Journal
August 6, 2012 By Marshall Heyman Where Spinners Deck Themselves BRIDGEHAMPTON—So here's a pop quiz, hot shot: It's late Thursday morning—the first Thursday in August on the East End. You've dropped the kidlets at camp. You've already gone to work out, which preferably entails—with this crowd—a spin class at Flywheel or Soul Cycle. Maybe even a double sesh if you're feeling extra energetic. After you grab your Venti iced nonfat no whip extra shot latte, what do you do? You hop in your Lexus Hybrid SUV or your Range Rover and go to the Hamptons Trunk Show organized by the UJA-Federation of New York's Manhattan Women's Philanthropy, of course, your Black Amex in your orange Birkin at the ready. What, was there an alternative? This year's trunk show took place at the Bridgehampton Historical Society. While the kick-off a few days earlier had been, naturally, a celebratory spin class, the sale is a stripped down Super Saturday. The prices of goods are not necessarily cheaper than retail, but 20% of proceeds from the vendors supports the UJA. Entry tickets are also affordable, available in multiples of $18—symbolizing "Chai," the Hebrew word for life and a number that comes up regularly on the Bar Mitzvah circuit. Also, more than at Super Saturday there were a lot of jewelry vendors. Ulrica Lanaro was representing TRE, which she started two years ago with her friend Marisa Noel Brown. Kim Pauley, a trial lawyer who occasionally goes to spin class in Westport, Conn., started Shame on Jane a year ago "to provide inexpensive gifts." Her rings have amusing sayings on them, like "Omg," "Rock your new body" and "Suck in stomach.”
Rachel Brown's 4-year-old jewelry company was inspired by Kabbalah. Her rings and bracelets feature "secret spiritual messages written in Aramaic," she said, standing next to a copy of the Zohar. "Each letter holds a vibrational energy protection against the evil eye." Marcie Fleck explained of the small company she started six years ago after taking a class at the Jewelry Arts Institute. "It was a hobby that became a small business thanks to my friends." Ramy Sharp, the event's chairwoman, started the Trunk Show out of her Manhattan apartment. "I wanted to get people to learn about the UJA without feeling like they had to write a big check," she said. "People really enjoyed it, so we moved it to my friend's house in Sagaponack until the town said you can't do it here. Eventually we found this space." In early 2010, Ms. Sharp, who has three children and spins five days a week, started her own clothing line, Ramy Brook, which she now sells at the Trunk Show. Two questions for Ms. Sharp. First, why is everyone involved with the Trunk Show addicted to spin class? "The women who enjoy coming here enjoy taking care of themselves," she said. "This way they can deck themselves out." And why are there so many jewelers? "They're used to the trunk show culture," Ms. Sharp explained. "We like it too, because a $300 top won't bring in as much for the UJA as a $3,000 necklace. "This always was a jewelry event with a little bit of clothing," added Sara Pilot, one of Ms. Sharp's friends. (She goes to Soul Cycle five days a week.) "Everyone knows everyone and they want to support the UJA. You're getting the wealthiest people on the East Coast. They don't buy jewelry in June and July. They really wait for this event to do that. Plus, it's during the week, so their husbands aren't here."
Donna Karan
As Seen In Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Spring ‘09 Lookbook
Leather rope necklace and sterling silver dog tag engraved with Kabbalistic Astrological sign Aquarius and the angelical influences connecting to Aquarius
As Seen In Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Spring ‘09 Lookbook
Antique coins on leather rope and copper chain engraved with Kabbalistic meditation from "The 72 Names of God" representing the energy of Protection Against Evil Eye
As Seen In Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Spring ‘09 Lookbook
Sterling silver cuff lightly plated in 24K gold engraved with Kabbalistic meditation: "Ana Bekoach"
As Seen In Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Spring ‘09 Lookbook
Bronze cuff engraved with Kabbalistic Astrological sign Cancer
Bronze ring engraved with Kabbalistic meditation from "The 72 Names of God": Protection Against Evil Eye
As Seen In Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Spring ‘09 Lookbook
Copper and brass pendants on oxidized sterling silver rope chain casted with Kabbalistic meditation from "The 72 Names of God” representing the energy of Protection Against Evil Eye
Oxidized brass medallion on suede rope engraved with Kabbalistic meditation from "The 72 Names of God" representing the energy of Protection Against Evil Eye
As Seen In Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Spring ‘09 Lookbook
Bronze cuff engraved with Kabbalistic meditation: "The 72 Names of God"
Donna Karan wearing bronze “72 Names of God” cuff 1/12/09 (photo by Patrick McMullen)
SPIRITUAL JEWELER
When Rachel Brown walks into a room she immediately make you think she came out from Rue Cambom, legendary headquarters of Chanel in Paris.
It was only a few years ago, on the occasion of the Jewish holiday of Purim , that I was introduced to her through a common friend from Nashville at the Kabbalah Center in New York. She was working at that time as a real estate broker in
Manhattan. I rarely saw Rachel again due to my intense traveling and our different courses and schedules at the center
Last week, just before going to my usual Tuesday Zohar class, I was at Barney’s when I suddenly bumped into her. ( very common these days) We found each other talking at the same time without really hearing one another. Then, for a second, my attention was struck by the gigantic set of three Hebrew letters she was wearing a charm on a long Chanel-style chain that looked more like a belt than a necklace. “Wow!” I said, “Where did you get that?”
She answered, “Joelle? Was that you or was it your sister I saw this morning at the Zohar class at the center?” “It’s my sister, my dear. I know, everyone gets confused. We apparently look very much alike...” “ Well you won’t believe it,” she says. “She asked me the same question about my necklace and gave me your card, saying I should absolutely show you my jewelry. She said you’d appreciate it. I’ve never seen your sister before and I thought I was talking to you!” “Your jewelry?” I reply, “Aren’t you in the real estate business?”
“Well Joelle, it’s a long story. Please come next week for a cup of tea at my studio. I'd love to show you what I am so proud of, my jewelry collection inspired by the wisdom of Kabbalah, I am eager to tell you all about it.” Whenever anyone mentions the words “Wisdom of Kabbalah” my world stops instantly and, like a little robot, I switch my direction to where these words come from. It has been like this for years, and once more I was having an opportunity to explore the magic topic which, my entire life, has been the sustenance of my spiritual core and the understanding in my most challenging moments, the socalled “game of life.”
The “studio”, it goes without saying, is an elegant pre-war apartment belonging to her parents and used sporadically as a pied-a-terre.
It’s a winterish rainy day. I leave my umbrella in an entrance hall upholstered with pretty flowered red wallpaper. Rachel opens the door. She’s wearing a pair of low waist blue jeans, a burgundy cashmere sweater tight to her waist, and this magnetic and gigantic golden charm tightened on a chain belt.
A top a painter’s table near windows of the high-ceilinged apartment, on black velvet fabric, lies a collection of numerous necklaces, stones, rings, bracelets and belts. Rachel invites me to sit in one of the chairs which, together with a small round table covered by an old green and burgundy paisley shawl and a similar chair, are the only pieces of furniture in the whole room.
Before I even have the time to take out my Belkin Voice recorder and my vintage Aurora fountain pen, Rachel starts talking in a flow of stories, concepts, reflections, insights and personal memories. I am hesitant to interrupt this flow to try tore construct a little bio with the things she’s telling me, without even bothering to take a break to breathe.. She’s transported, enthusiastic...she’s traveling into a realm that, fortunately for us, I can reach.
I understand Rachel has always considered herself an artist, even if at young age her parents discouraged her from going to art school. “You will not make money, ”her mother, a very talented Washington interior designer (but unsuccessful businesswoman) would say. As a consequence, Rachel attended business school, where she got an MBA that lead her to “Smart Wall Street for a few years.” As smart as the environment was, Rachel was not happy. All along the way, in her spare time she would redesign vintage clothing, fur coats for dogs, and had other small creative activities that “Never really succeeded that much for not having enough cash flow.” There was a certain point Rachel could never get beyond. She always struggling, but realized one very important factor: She felt immense joy in the creation of a new design
It was about eight years ago that her life dramatically changed “in a beautiful, and fabulous way” when she attended a Kabbalah class at the center for the first time. Inspired by the Kabbalistic meditations and feeling that they were a great deal of help, she started visualizing the pieces she would later create, but had no idea yet how she was going to make these things. She thought, “I have to make this happen, I must find funding.” She applied for loans and was turned down because she had nothing to show. A sample line would require a minimum investment. Looking at other jewelry designers’ creations, she was constantly feeling a deep pain, recognizing certain similarities but at the same time being limited in her ability to manifest the creations that were so clearly visible at that moment in the world of her own mind
Attending Kabbalah classes improved all aspects of her life, and an imperative desire to share the knowledge she was acquiring with the people she cared for grew into a strong and motivating sense of personal mission. As a reformist Jew, she realized that the spiritual teachings of Kabbalah, (related to Judaism ) are universal, and are supposed to be passed on through “Spiritual technology”- a concept widely elaborated at the Kabbalah Center as Technology for the soul”. She felt she also was a messenger for “helping people’s unconditional love and souls to work on themselves and connect with the Hebrew letters of the 72 names of God” To be the inspiration for people’s opening towards this would make her happy
She decides to quit the Wall Street world, manages to find a job for a period of time in the Jewelry department at Christie’s where she’s advised to take a course in Gemology and get acquainted in a world of different commodities. Fascinated by that world, she feels she needs to explore something new. As a sales and marketing manager and account executive at David Yurman she learns more about the business but she felt she was helping that company to manifest something that was not hers. Finally Rachel takes off for a new adventure; her own
Over the years and after several broken promises of investments, Rachel was consumed by her ardent passion and will to be successful in her endeavor. She put a plan loosely into place, working as a real estate broker and raising the funds she needed for her sample collection, still looking for investors that never seemed to appear. “It’s my Tikkun Olam ,” she tells me. “I am catching my breath, but Wow!I came through as I know this is how I was supposed to, earning it, in this life.
Here I am, confronted with this large sample jewelry line, licensed by The International Kabbalah Center. Hebrew letters whose fonts were taken from Kabbalist Ari (Isaac Luria) writings and engraved on iron, hematite, bone, cameos, silver, and gold coins will connect me to the energies of Power of Prosperity, Global transformation, Absolute Certainty, Self-Esteem, The Big Picture, Fear-less, Sexual Energy, Revealing the Dark Side, Eradicate Plague, Fertility, Victory Over Addiction, Dialing God, Unconditional Love, Protection From The Evil Eye, Heaven On Earth, Miracle Making. Oh, I forgot...all with a French Chanel touch and a trendy mystical ethnic look.
Rachel elaborates on the different letters. She talks about the several contracted craftsmen from Providence , Rhode Island and their connection with the light coming from scanning the Hebrew letters that are nothing less than secret compositions of mystical teachings of our existence, wrapped in a precious book called the Zohar. The Zohar collection of books are on a shelf, together with a photo of the matriarch Rachel’s graveyard in West Bank near Bethlehem in Israel, with followers praying around it. I thank Rachel for the lovely and enriching afternoon....
I look at my watch in the elevator on this grey, rainy day. It will soon be the Jewish holiday of Hanukah, , the holiday of lights and miracles. I will be lighting my candles one by one, every day, from right to left for eight days.“...You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the wanton into the hands of the diligent students of Your Torah...”
For we, are isolated as a people, surrounded by enemies dedicated to our destruction, both physically and spiritually. We must know that no matter how dark it may get, the light will burn and never be extinguished. My Kabbalistic meditation will fly safely from New York to Jerusalem, to you dear Rachel and to all that believe in the power of the light ! Hag Sameah Joelle’s Tips: The Jeweler: Rachel Brown:25 E 67th Street, Suite 8B, New York, NY 10065 tel +1 (917) 297-3497
DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL BROWN
One of the newest Spring designers to arrive at Marlee’s, Rachel Brown jewelry is quickly becoming a Marlee’s favorite. The jewelry is hand-crafted using unusual techniques which give each piece a beautiful aesthetic; the jewelry is made to look as if it was recently unearthed from a Middle Eastern archeological dig site. Described as spiritual jewelry, each piece has a deep meaning that extends far beyond just the physical look and feel of the jewelry. We were so thrilled to snag a few moments to chat with Rachel Brown last week- Read on to gain some fascinating insight into Rachel Brown, her jewelry and the deep meaning behind her gorgeous jewelry.
What were your aspirations as a young girl? Is jewelry design something you’ve always known you wanted to do? I’ve always wanted to be a designer, and work in something related to fashion. I’ve always been really good with my hands and wanted to do something creative. I didn’t necessarily think jewelry design, but yes, I’ve always enjoyed design.
Did you go to school for design? Well, not at first. My mother is an interior designer, and she always had problems with not making enough money. So my parents encouraged me to attend business school or to study computer science. I listened to my parents advice, and I went to NYU business school for college. My father suggested doing a double major in computer sciences, which I hated- I couldn’t understand anything! I ended up dropping the major and switching to a marketing degree. I graduated with a B.F. in marketing. But even when I was in school, I was always doing little design projects on the side. Did you have any work experience leading up to the launch of your own business, that inspired your designs? After school, I pursued a career on Wall Street and then switched to working at Christie’s and also worked at David Yurman for a while. I decided to become a gemologist, and so I went to school to get GIA certified. I had those formative experiences and saw that I could do it myself. How did you start your label? Getting funding to start it was a struggle. I ended up winning some money in Atlantic City with a boyfriend- about 3,000$ and used it to launch a couple of jewelry samples. From there, it was just a lot of word of mouth, and support from friends and close clientele. I ended up sellinng at high-end boutiques in New York. Donna Karen saw it when a friend helped her out and was a big break through. How would you describe the aesthetic of your jewelry? Earthy. I want things to look like they were dug up on an archeological dig- I want the wearer to feel history and energy in the pieces. Sometimes, I’ll use older materials and recycled materials to get that feeling.
Gold leather cuff with Shema Yisrael / 72 names of God When you design it, what kind of woman do you envision wearing your jewelry? It’s funny that you should ask that, because oftentimes, when I am creating a piece, I have a specific person in mind and I make that piece special for them. How do you approach creating a new collection? It’s a pretty organic process. I start with one idea for a piece and then if it goes well, it will lead to more. I’m working on a new collection now-it’s kind of Kabbalah meets Chanel, with lots of pearls, but still with that earthiness. I have runway fashion collections, and those pieces are oneof-a-kind. But I also really like making simpler pieces that people can have and wear for every day, or wear layered with their more expensive jewelry. The jewelry is said to be Kabbalistic, do you study Kabbalah? The jewelry is spiritually inspired, and is based on basic needs that we all have in life- like love, joy, health. I have been a student of Kabbalah for 14 years and my collections are inspired by those lessons.
What is the meaning behind most of your designs? What do the letters signify? The letters do not form words. Actually, you shouldn’t try to pronounce them as a word, because when you do, you create what’s called a spiritual circuit. The letters do form different names of God and angelical influences, but they are not words that are meant to be spoken- they are vibrational energies that are very powerful. What materials or techniques do you favor? My original collection uses sterling silver lightly plated in 18k or 24k gold. The light plating is a technique that I use to make it oxidize so that the jewelry looks antiquated and vintage. The pieces are in a more raw form that way too, and can take on the energy of the person wearing it- their perfume, sweat and environment. I just started using a heavier plating, which lasts longer, but it’s still not too heavy because I really like the hand-wrought feel, over a chunkier machine-made look.
Sterling silver charm with 72 names of God What was the most exciting moment for you-one that you’ll always remember in your journey with Rachel Brown Jewelry? What is a valuable lesson you have learned?
A friend of mine asked me to design a piece for Donna Karan. She ended up sending me a personal letter thanking me for the piece and telling me how much it meant to her. My friend told me that she was crying when she saw the bracelet that I had designed for her. That was really cool for me, as it was just at the start of my jewelry line. Another great moment was when I got my first account and saw my jewelry displayed in a case for the first time- that was in 2009. Do you have another accessory designer that you admire? Donna Karan has always been a favorite of mine. The people who make her collections are fabulous, they’re so talented. Also Azzedine Alaia, he’s a Tunisian fashion and shoe designer. I draw inspiration from them in ways that I don’t even realize. I think that they were on my radar and consciousness and I tried to emulate them in certain ways that I admire. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young women interested in jewelry design? Never give up. There are so many obstacles and people who will tell you not to do it and that you can’t do it . But follow your heart and dream. You’ll end up in the right place as long as you follow your heart. What’s next for Rachel Brown? I’d like to have a Rachel Brown Jewelry boutique.I’d like to expand accounts- I want to be global and worldwide and have a boutique in every top city. I also plan to create an 18k Diamond Collection. I want to have a worldwide e-commerce site in many different languages. Ultimately, I want everyone to be able to connect with spirituality and for everyone to have something that will help remind them to connect with that. Rachel Brown jewelry is now available for purchase at our West Bloomfield shop-in-shop. It will very soon be available for purchase on our website too!
RACHEL BROWN JEWELRY: SPIRIT INFUSED JEWELS
Here at StyleOm, we’re always on the lookout for the new, the exciting, and, of course, the meaningful. So when I came across NYC based jewelry designer Rachel Brown, I couldn’t help but be excited by her dramatic, esoteric pieces inspired by her study of Kabbalah. Based on Kabbalistic meditations composed of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet which Kabbalah recognizes as the DNA of the universe, Rachel Brown Jewelry pieces are engraved with Hebrew letters expressing variations of these meditations. The spiritual power behind these meditations connects one to the concept of mind over matter and to a realm of bliss where no chaos exists. Brown says to visually scan the engraved letters on her jewelry and the energy emanates to one’s soul and throughout one’s existence. And that when one scans the specific Hebrew letter combinations, the soul connects to and downloads these energies. The Kabbalistic Angels engraved on all her pieces bring the wearer protection, love happiness, certainty, prosperity, and miracles. This and increasing peace in the collective consciousness through gorgeous jewelry. Sign us up!
Rachel Brown’s new line called Luminous Emanations includes pieces called Unconditional Love, Prosperity and Happiness. They’re engraved with the three-letter sequences of the 72 Names of God, which act like an index to specific, spiritual frequencies. Now, a question that I’m sure has come up (and which I thought, too) was do you need to be Jewish to wear Kabbalah jewelry? Brown’s website explains that Kabbalah is about the spiritual laws of the universe and has nothing to do with Judaism or religion, but about spirituality. Her jewelry connects the wearer to its positive energies via the engraved letter combinations.
The pieces are composed of sterling silver lightly plated in 24K gold. Over time, the gold wears off, the pieces become oxidized and scratched, and can become lighter or darker depending on the energy of the person wearing them, taking on the individuality and personal expression of one’s soul and character.
Rachel Brown Jewelry can be found in various East Coast boutiques, Kabbalah centers and has been featured in pop-ups and displays at Henri Bendel, The Plaza Hotel and Bloomingdale’s Soho. To shop online, go to RachelBrownJewelry.com
SUMMER ACCESSORY TRENDS
This summer is full of trendy and exciting accessories to spice up that little to nothing wardrobe. That is most worn during these hot summer months! Whether you are hitting up the beaches, enjoying the fun parties, or simply just laying by the pool trying to get a tan, and enjoying a good book. With these accessories you will turn heads in admiration, and jealousy. Women will want to be you, and men will want to be with you! The perfect accessory can go a long way, and I encourage women of all ages to take a chance on some of the seasons most popular trends. This Kabbalah inspired bracelet is perfect for the summers months. Beautiful in color, size, and detail! These bracelets are made exclusively by Rachel Brown. Her line includes various Kabbalah inspired accessories. Perfect for those who follow the religion, Brittney Spears or Madonna fans, or just want to be stylish! You can find Rachel Browns line at
DIVINE CREATIONS
Divine Creations Jewelry has been used for spiritual protection and enlightenment by many different cultures throughout history. From the Evil Eye Talisman and the Hamsa Hand to the Buddha and the Lotus Flower, there is a belief that wearing jewels depicting spiritual or religious motifs can protect a person from negative energies and promote spiritual healing. In today’s society, spiritual jewelry offers a sense of serenity in a hectic world and there are plenty of jewelry designers incorporating these ageold symbols into designs with a thoroughly modern aesthetic. Spirituality and style merge beautifully with these artisan jewelry collections. Etched with prayers, meditations, sacred messages, and symbolic meaning, each piece emanates elegance and good energy. Blessed Jewels for the Valentine.
Rachel Brown Ana BeKoach One-of-A-Kind Gold Bangles,
Cast in 14K Gold and engraved with a ‘Ana Bekoach’ – ‘creating miracles’ Kabbala prayer that connects our soul to the forces of creation, purifying our physical and spiritual life for the creation of miracles. New York-based gemologist Rachel Brown designs jewelry based on her study of the Kabbalah -which reveals the spiritual teachings of the universe and hidden secrets of the Torah written in a book called the Zohar, the definitive text of Kabbalah. Kabbalistic meditations are composed of the 22 letters of the hebrew alphabet which Kabbalah recognizes as the DNA of the universe, thus, her pieces are engraved with hebrew letters expressing variations of these meditations. The spiritual power behind these meditations connect one to “mind over matter”, total control of one’s life, and to a realm of bliss where no chaos exists. Simply scan the engraved letters on the jewelry with one’s eyes and the energy emanates to one’s soul and throughout one’s existence. Kabbalah states that the “eyes are the windows of the soul”, so that when one scans the hebrew letter combinations a spiritual technology takes place as the soul connects and downloads these energies.
Rachel Brown Unconditional Love Pendant, Brown incorporates the 72 names for God on this 18K Gold plated medallion charm and overlays those names with the Aramaic word for unconditional love in Sterling Silver, which hangs from a cable chain. The ’72 Names of God’ is a formula of 72 combinations of Hebrew letters, each three-letter combination is considered to be an angelic force or energy entity. They are not words, therefore not meant to be pronounced, just read with the eyes in the direction from right to left.
The unique energies one can connect with through The ’72 Names of God’ represent everything we could need and want in life. An elegant piece with an ancient feel, that can be worn everyday to add spiritual presence to the daily routine.
LINGER
Posted - June 2011
From the time time she was a little girl, Rachel Brown saw the world as her jewelry box surrounding herself with beautiful things. “Great design and styles has always been inspirational to me,” explains Brown who has been known to jazz up Italian suits by placing fur trim around the lapel or design fabulous mink coats for little Ricky, her beloved yorkie. “its kind of visual stimulation that keeps m happy.” When she was in kindergarten, her family, who lived in Virginia, had regular blissful outings at Lord & Taylor in Washington DC. At the time , it was considered the city’s “it” store. “I used to try on the most beautiful totally chic gorgeous ice skating dresses. One was a hunter green wool material. I can see the red, black and blue flower trim around the wrist, neck, and pleats of the skirt. My mother bought it for me and still keeps it in the closet stored like a precious garment from the costume institute,” recalls Brown. “And I remember wearing the most adorable full flouncy red skating skirt while I did the bunny hop and twirled on the ice.” She continued to nurture her passion and style living in Manhattan New York University – getting decked out in a Betsy Johnson green velvet cat suit to pursue the shops along Madison Avenue to devour the latest designer collections looking for inspiration. Although she took the practical route majoring in marketing, her soul was more breakfast at Tiffany’s meets – Coco Chanel than Wall Street. After graduation, Brown worked in the Jewelry department at Christie’s. “I loved looking at the charm bracelets and seeing someone’s life on it – each one was special and fascinating,” explains Brown who likens the jewels to old friends. “You could see the hand engravings from a woman's lover and feel the energy of the person.” There were pins specially commissioned for prima ballerinas.
“It was so exciting, like I was in the middle of a fabulous movie,” she recalls. Dealers, countesses and princesses would come to investigate the pieces. Sometimes a hip guy in a t-shirt and jeans would appear out of nowhere, (or so it seemed), to bid on a pink diamond. “I felt so connected to the jewelry,” says Brown. “I often cried when a piece was gone. I couldn't’t visit with it anymore. To further understand the magic of the art form, she attended the prestigious Gemological Institute of America, (GIA), to obtain her gemology degree. Nearly a decade ago, Brown found the ultimate beauty in the wisdom of Kabbalah. “When I first started studying, I was so taken by the information. It clicked on a deep level, my world shifted and I began to use Kabbalistic meditations in my life,” offers Brown. Put most simply, through study and meditation, Kabbalah helps people see how they can live without chaos and provides a roadmap to the spiritual laws of the universe. “It shows that there’s a way to tap into the world beyond the five senses and what we can see,” says Brown. “Kabbalah guides those to enter a realm of peace happiness, abundance, and a feeling of well-being.
Brown Began to envision combining her two great passions – Jewelry and the study of Kabbalah. She longed to create jewelry that had a breathtaking ascetic appeal, but also possessed as inner beauty. The letters engraved on the pieces would connect to a spiritual energy and draw powers from the universe. But they would also be stunning. Brown imagined beautiful jewelry with a purpose – where the pieces would contain astrological signs tailored to wearer and bringing them blessings, protection, perfect health, prosperity, and miracles. Created from stylishly keen eye, caring soul and intuitive wisdom, Rachel Brown Jewelry was born. And in this economy when people are turning to spiritual pursuits, these pieces really provide meaning. “I love that I'm able to connect the physical and spiritual world,” explains Brown. And you don’t have to study
Kabbalah to enjoy the jewelry and benefit from its positive energy. “I have a special piece that is dedicated to helping someone attract a soul mate,” she offers. “There's a certain mystery to it. But you can draw and connect with its positive energy like a magnet – whether you understand it or not. Brown’s jewelry has inspired and touched many souls. Donna Karan cherishes her specially designed fetching Bronze cuff engraved with The 72 Names of God, which has an ancient feel. Karan was taken by the pieces that Rachel Brown Jewelry was featured on the models in the designer’s Urban Zen Spring 2009 Catalogue. Also, Brown’s baubles are practical. She often uses brass, copper, and semi precious stones rather than diamonds, and gold – so these exquisite pieces aren't ridiculously expensive. Yes brown also has an exclusive high-end collection featuring gemstones like pearls, amethysts, onyx, and rubies.
Always inspired by the world around her Brown’s line continues to expand. In fact, she discovered some of her greatest pieces by accident. “One time, a piece was engraved too flat. It was lightly outlined and in my mind, I pictured it having more depth” she explains. “It didn’t pop. And I wondered what I could do with the piece.” The misfire led her to an engraver who did a masterful technique called “diamond engraving”. “I would have never known about it otherwise”, says Brown. The sterling silver is engraved to look as if the its emblazoned with tiny diamonds. “The original piece’s limitation was actually a blessing,” she offers. “It turned into something that I may have enver envisioned.” And then, she pauses, “There is so much inspiration in the mistakes that I didn’t plan.”
THE POWER OF “LETTING GO”
The Power Of “Letting Go” By Dawn on August 13, 2010
I just got back from an amazing trip to Israel with the Kabbalah Centre. This year’s trip had 600+ people from all around the world gathering to connect to the source with the intent of bringing this energy back to our loved ones and the world. I participated in last year’s trip and embraced working on “letting go” as my correction, something I needed to address to advance in life. I have a natural tendency to be impatient, to control HOW I would connect to happiness. I have learned that when we get our ego out of the spotlight, happiness finds us. Happiness found me last week, Tuesday August 3, 2010 at my wedding in Tiberius. The entire process is a testament to the beauty you connect to when letting go. Bob proposed to me on Sunday July 25th (a week before leaving for our trip). Our teacher Benjamin shared that we had the opportunity to have a ceremony in Israel and we opened ourselves to this happening. We ordered our ring on Friday afternoon before leaving. The specifics (where, when, how) were not shared. Meanwhile, a simple white dress presented itself to me while shopping in Tel Aviv the Sunday that we arrived. I picked up a pair of “blinged out” white Havianas and my super talented friend Rachel Brown styled me with her jewelry. We were told on Tuesday afternoon that the ceremony would be that evening at Decks Restaurant which sits on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. We arrived and were blessed by The Rav, danced in circles, lifted on chairs, witnessed fireworks from boats that took us out for dancing.
The evening is etched in my memory forever. As James Van Der Beek stated (he was married in Israel 2 days before us): “For us, there was tremendous freedom in not having to worry about the food getting cold or the DJ playing ‘YMCA’ again!” I feel the great merit of having this night as the beginning of my life with Bob and the energy behind this happening was my finally “letting go”.
RACHEL BROWN CREATING BEAUTY FOR HER SPIRITUALITY
R achel Brown – Creating Beauty For Her Spirituality Venus In Balance – Posted: December 18th, 2009
http://www.venusinbalance.com/rachel-brown-creating-beauty-from-her-spirituality/ Rachel Brown combines beauty with the spiritual fulfillments that she continually discovers in her studies of Kabbalah. Her mission? That the Kabbalistic meditations engraved upon her jewelry brings the wearer blessings, protection, perfect health, prosperity, and miracles. Composed of the sterling silver lightly platted in 24K gold, Rachel’s pieces starts to look like antiquities over time, appearing as though they have been uncovered from an archaeological dig, thus physically reflecting the 4000-year-old wisdom of Kabbalah. Her jewelry has resonated with the likes of Donna Karan, and many more… Her story inspires! Email Rachel, call her (917) Job (aka, Career/Calling/Inspiration): Spiritual Jewelry Designer Family Situation: Single with nine year old yorkie How do you make sure you feel good everyday? I connect to spiritual meditations from Kabbalah: The Ana Bekoach and The 72 Names of God How do you muster up the courage/confidence/stamina to create the life you have? When you have a dream and you see the future in the present and have passion for what you believe in…this is the root of courage, confidence, and stamina. Which has created and continues to create the life I'm living.. I see the future and the presWhat's your approach to nutrition? Moderation. I eat healthy and unhealthy… just a few french fries, and a hand full of m&m’s. I love bread and butter, but high protein keeps my blood sugar steady. How do you stay inspired when difficult challenges arise? I look at how far I've come since the beginning of my business, and at all the obstacles I had in my way until this point. I see how I conquered every challenge one by one. My past success teaches me that these challenges are just spiritual tests and opportunities to reveal light. Donna Karan is currently wearing my signature bronze cuff, but I went through many trials and tribulations before I was actually able to manifest the vision. The struggles, and obstacles I've encountered along the way to reaching this goal were emotionally very painful. However, my beliefs in my designs and confidence that Donna would love them never wavered. Finally, I was able to convince an old NYU friend who is a writer to interview Donna for US Weekly and pass along my jewelry. The rest is in history! What do you do to stay in balance? Its definitely a challenge but just being cognizant of the fact I need balance in my life helps me to organize my days so there's a little of everything in it. What’s your ultimate indulgence – just for you? Azzedine Alaia. One of my favorite designs! What advice do you have for women/men aiming to have it all? You have to believe that you CAN have it all. Your consciousness has to be replaced where you see no limitations In your life. It all has to do with having certainty in your talent, knowing your potential and never settling for anything less than what you dream.
Rachel’s Signature Cuff (Purchased by Donna Karen). The Ultimate Gift of Symbolism and Meaning, despiting the 72 Names of God.
JEWELRY AS TELL - ALL ACCESSORY
COLOR - N - ICE FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011 Jewelry as Tell-All Accessory
Sure your jewelry says something about your taste, but what if it revealed insight into your soul? Thoughtful designers today are providing their clientele with infinitely more ways to distinguish themselves from the pack. And collectors with a yen to make their jewelry count for more than decorating their person seek out custom jewelry with a message that tells the world what is important to them. Above is a creative and very modernist take on jewelry with meaning. The neck piece shown here features an individual looking ruby suspended from a black lava bead strand --- providing visual interest from the smooth stone, and naturally textured beads. The rough hewn nearly natural form ruby has engraved Hebrew characters which convey a personal attribute of the thoughtful owner. This custom made necklace is “engraved with meditation from The 72 Names of God representing the energy of certainty” explains New York based designer Rachel Brown.
TREND SETTERS ON THE STREET
Rachel Brown City: New York City Gig: Jewelry Designer for Ra-
Wearing head to toe: J Brand jeans, James Perse t-shirt, Ash sneakers, Splendid Beauty faves: I keep it simple! Signature scent: Opium Top shops: Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman Twitter Handle: @kabbalahjewels
FASHION TRIBES
FEBRUARY 09, 2015 What a Cool Kabballah Hematite Ring and Fire & Brimstone Preachers of Yore Have in Common
If you want to understand the role of spirituality in life today, the place to look is outside the church. To the media and, of course, entertainment. I go to a family and it is broken up and I say, "what caused this?" Drink! I step up to a young man on the scaffold and say, "what brought you here?" Drink! Whence all the misery and sorrow and corruption? Invariably it is drink. Whiskey and beer are all right in their place, but their place is in hell. Listen! 75% of our idiots come from intemperate parents, 80% of the paupers, 82% of the crime is committed by men under the influence of liquor, 90% of the adult criminals are whiskey made. The Chicago Tribune kept track for 10-years and found that 53,438 murders were committed in the saloons...Look at Kansas. It is dry. In 85 of 105 counties in Kansas there is not one idiot.
- from Booze, or Get on the Water Wagon
preached by the evangelist Billy Sunday in 1917 Regardless of whether there really were no idiots in Kansas (just reading that made me laugh aloud), the influence of Sunday during the early part of the 20th century was astounding. His famous or, perhaps, infamous (should you qualify as an idiot) Booze sermon is credited by scholars with being one of the reasons Prohibition passed in 1920.
At the top of every list was Harry Emerson Fosdick, the most famous preacher in the US from the 1920s through the 1940s; he was the founding preacher of the Rockefeller-backed Riverside Church in New York, a radio star and a bestselling author. "Cultural power matters," explains Matthew Hedstrom, author of The Rise of Liberal Religion. "The folks who ran the major trade publishing houses, or sat on the religious books committee of the American Library Association, or coordinated Religious Book Week in the 1920s, or organized the reading programs during World War II—these were liberals, and that kind of cultural power matters." Once this liberal establishment ditched their traditional ideas about the market being "corrupt", they began marketing religious works just like you would soap - or any other commodity. "Books were a critically important—perhaps the most important—religious commodity of the twentieth century, certainly by the 1920s," continues Hedstrom. And commodities are what make markets run, including culture.
"If you are interested in the mechanisms of culture, and you study the twentiethcentury United States, you have to study media and markets. These are the most powerful forces in American cultural life." Liberals controlled mainstream media and publishing, and they had a religious agenda: to promote some version of the "Kingdom of God" on earth, not by withdrawing from it or turning away from it, but by participating fully. And in doing so, they hoped to "redeem" the culture. "Postmillennial theology desires the Kingdom of God on earth, and believes that human beings, with divine grace, can achieve it," says Hedstrom. "This is in contrast to a bunkered fundamentalism that aims to save souls but otherwise remain safely removed from a corrupt and corrupting world." So, from this perspective, cultural "success" now goes way beyond just "saving" souls (whatever that means) to addressing issues of ethics, promoting progress and jumping in to save the world you live in right now. And all thanks to the book culture of the 19th century which allowed liberal religious ideas to spread and take root. Be it "Peace Corps or Amnesty International or the Human Rights Campaign, or through social work or psychological counseling, or through cultural efforts like literacy promotion," says Hedstrom, "many more avenues are available for doing your religion."
Including fab jewelry. "My mission is to share this Light with the world using my jewelry designs as the medium for achieving this goal," explains Rachel Brown about her eponymous line of jewelry which is designed to oxidize and scratch naturally, eventually resembling treasures from antiquity uncovered in an archeological dig. "Through my prayers, it is my wish that the Kabbalistic meditations engraved upon my jewelry bring the wearer blessings, protection, perfect health, prosperity, and miracles." The ring (top) certainly qualifies! It is crafted from hematite, which is thought to connect the wearer with the earth and thus feel safe and secure. Courageous, even. Aesthetically, what I particularly love is how it manages to look both rough-hewn as well as futuristically sleek. Plus it helps a good cause: a percentage of the sale price goes to Spirituality For Kids, dedicated to helping children to realize their own unique purpose and potential in life.
RICKY BRAVA INTERVIEWS RACHEL BROWN
Isten in on Ricky Brava and Rachel Brown's conversation and find out more about this fabulous Jewelry Designer! Spiritual Jewelry and Custom-Made in NYC When Madonna and Demi Moore looked for jewelry that was not only beautiful, but had a deeper purpose, they turned to Rachel Brown’s unique creations.
It's Rachel's greatest dream to be able to combine her lifelong passion for designing beautiful things with the spiritual fulfillment she endlessly receives through her study of Kabbalah. As a gemologist, Rachel has always been fascinated with gemstones and the visualization of color and light. Amazing works by an amazing artist! Make sure to find out more and see her wonderful pieces on her website www.RachelBrownJewelry.com The Ricky Brava Show is sponsored by www.MortgageFloat.com and Apollo Financial Group
JEWEL SNOB
Rachel Brown’s line of Kabbalah-inspired jewelry is truly unique. Her spirituality and devotion come through in everything from the materials she uses and the antique-like shapes of her designs, to the inspiring Kabbalistic engraved on her custom, made-to-order pieces. Her core collection is made from sterling silver slightly plated in 24K gold, chosen because the gold wears off over time giving an antique quality to the pieces. It’s always wonderful to find something that actually gets better as it ages and every one of Rachel Brown’s pieces grow in character as you wear them. The designer’s Bronze Cuff (picture above $1,295), is my favorite – doesn’t it look like it was unearthed from some ancient temple? Her high end collection is composed of gemstones (pearl, cameo shell, lave stone, hematite, pyrite, amethyst, rock crystal quartz, black tourmaline, onyx, tiger’s eye, and ruby), and they’re used as a backdrop for the Kabbalistic meditations engraved on Jewelry.
WRITE THIS. RIGHT, THIS?
This past Monday evening I attended an UnTapped event, hosted by Ms. Jordana Hasan, at the Rivington Hotel. The purpose of the event was to assist the launching of designers/stylists who are warming up to hot, as well as raising money for FAVALA’s, Alicia Sanchez. (Ms. Sanchez is a fellow designer who is struggling with two things: cancer and paying lofty bills that come with being sick. This is an injustice.) While there I spoke to a number of the models who were donning these elaborate getups or jewelry with their own clean state clothes. The idea was, the models were assigned to mingle aka fill in the invited guests with the who dressed them info. Initially the models weren't as talkative, actually they never really broke out of those shells, which was fine because I am not a shy person. While trying to decide on who to approach, I saw a group of four models, and thought, there’s good.
After introducing myself we talked a little about the decorative ornaments they were wearing, the Rock Band leather wrist bands. After 15 minutes of chatting, I learned that I was among two aspiring actors, an aspiring model, and the fourth was a bit more cautious with his words.(You do what you got to, to make it.) Around that time I realized that the conversation had turned to personal matters, so I advised myself to stop giving looks and step away from the male models. After breaking away I met a Ms. Veronica Kelly of Veronica Ariel. Her calling card goes: Personal shopper, stylist, and designer. She isn't bored. One of Veronica’s models had on a piece that looked like a two. It was somethig that could do well at a night event. (Not the movies.) It can barely be seen at the top photo. The second girl from the left. The picture posted besides these words is a clearer visual of what Veronica is up to.
When  I  spoke  to  the  designer,  Tina  Tandon expressed  excitement.  She  said  thanks,  and  a  few  things  that  I  could  not  recollect  afterwards,  so  I  contacted  to  ask  a  few  questions.  What  she  had  to  say  was:  “I  am  always  inspired  by  vintage,  and  also  by  nature.  All  my  collections  have  a  bit  that  influence.  For  Fall-Â10,  I  was  more  interested  in  combining  the  opposites  – the  softs  and  the  hard,  the  feminine  and  the  masculine,  the  fluid  and  the  sturdy.  There  are  feminine  silhouettes  with  hard  edge,  rocked-Âout  details  with  chains,  and  studs,  and  soft  flowy silk  fabrics  molded  into  structural  details.â€?  (Ms.  Tandon’s dresses  can  be  found  at  Foravi in  Soho,  as  well  as  other  locations.  Her  site  is  linked  above.  Hmmm  who  else  do  I  want  to  sing  about?  Dutch.  No,  not  the  language  that  is  spoken  in  Western  Europe.  Dutch  is  a  jewelry  company.  The  designer,  Ijfke Ridgley  .  (pronounced  “eyef-Âkuh)  used  recycled  and  vintage  material  for  the  necklaces  and  bracelets  she  pieces  together.  According  to  her  business  card,  these  body  garnishes  are  90%  virtue,  and  10%  vice.â€?  Ha.  Clever.  (Although  I  would  switch  the  two  around.)  Hey  Ijfke,  that  Green  Lace,  Gold  necklace,  I  like. There  were  also  a  number  of  other  designers,  but  this  is  not  the  song  that  never  ends. But  I  will  do  shout  outs.  Silhouette  was  present,  a  Brazilian  brand  that  focuses  on  bikinis  and  gym  clothes.  (Hoje đ?‘’đ?‘’Ě um  dia de  sol)  (They  have  items  at  Equinox.)  Jacqui  Bennett  was  there  representing  her  baby,  Yarhn.  A  few  words  to  describe  what  she’s  up  to:  organic  fabric,  crisp  cuts  with  soft  materials. And  lastly  Rachel  Brown  was  there  with  her Kabbalah  jewelry.  When  I  spoke  with  Rachel  she  explained  that  the  engravements on  her  pieces  were  supposed  to  be  read  right  to  left,  I'm  doing  so,  releases  a  positive  energy.  Do  I  believe  in  Kabbalah?  Not  that  I  know  of.  Did  I  get  a  good  case  of  goose  flesh  after  hearing  this?  Yes,  the  mind  is  powerful.
RACHEL BROWN’S KABBALAH JEWELRY COLLECTIONS
Rachel Brown is a jewelry designer who makes custom-made jewelry collections based on the ancient spiritual teachings of Kabbalah. Kabbalah reveals the spiritual teachings of the universe and hidden secrets of the Torah written in a book called the Zohar, the definitive text of Kabbalah. She has studied Kabbalah at the Kabbalah Center in Manhattan for nine years and her life has been forever and remarkably transformed through the teachings of Rav and Karen Berg, the founders of the Kabbalah Center. Rachel’s jewelry is based on Kabbalistic meditations composed of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet which Kabbalah recognizes as the DNA of the universe;; thus, her pieces are engraved with Hebrew letters expressing variations of the meditations. The spiritual power behind these meditations connect one to “mind over matter”, total control of one’s life, and to a realm of bliss where no chaos exists. Simply scan the engraved letters on her jewelry with your eyes and the energy emanates to your soul and throughout your existence. Kabbalah states that the “eyes are the windows of the soul”, so that when you scan in Hebrew letter combinations a spiritual technology takes place as the soul connects to and downloads these energies. Rachel’s core collection of jewelry is composed of sterling silver lightly plated in 24K gold. She has chosen this process because the gold wears off over time, the pieces become oxidized and scratched,
can become lighter or darker depending on the energy of the person wearing them, and actually take on the individuality and personal expression of one’s soul and character. The pieces start to look like antiquities over time, appearing as though they had been uncovered from an archaeological dig, thus physically reflecting the 4000 year old wisdom of Kabbalah.
INSIDE CHAPPAQUA
Jewelry makes everyone happy, but even better is to have jewelry with great power and spiritual fulfillment. One of Jolie B Ray’s top designers, Rachel Brown, creates jewelry based on the Kabbalistic meditations composed of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each piece is engraved with Hebrew letters expressing different meditations such as, dissolving negativity, creating miracles, healing and prosperity. Original Jolie B. Ray creations also include many gemstones with meaningful properties. “Our favorite stone is Labradorite, which is known as the gemstone of destiny because it opens up your psychic abilities by connecting you to the Universal flow of energies that permeates our universe. It is an excellent gemstone for those seeking to bring your diet, health, and exercise habits under control because it regulates your metabolism and jumps starts your energy levels!” explained Marjorie Troob. Another part of living well is giving back to the community. This past October, rocks hosted its first monthly charity event for Chappaqua’s A Cure in Our Lifetime. They had a special designer showcase featuring Anahita and Leslie Greene. Their designs were 10% off and we donated 15% of the profits from the two-day event to the charity. In addition, they raffled off a Jolie B Ray necklace, of which 100% of the profits were donated to charity.
RACHEL BROWN TRUNK SHOW
Gemologist and Kabbalah follower, Rachel Brown has created a collection of jewelry composed of sterling silver lightly plated in 24K gold. She chose this process for her jewelry because the gold wears off over time, the pieces become oxidized and scratched, can become lighter or darker depending on the energy of the person wearing them, and actually take on the individuality and personal expression of one’s soul and character.
The pieces start to look like antiquities over time, appearing as though they had been uncovered from an archaeological dig, thus physically reflecting the 4000-year-old wisdom of Kabbalah. Her mission is to share this Light with the world using jewelry designs as the medium for achieving this goal. On July 15th and 17th form 12pm-5pm, come preview Rachel Brown’s collection of statement jewelry at The Plaza Beauty for a trunk show showcasing her latest jewelry designs.
FASHION DESIGNER AND CONSULTANT
The Inspiration Behind My Jewelry It is my greatest dream to be able to combine my lifelong passion for designing beautiful things with the spiritual fulfillment I endlessly receive through my study of Kabbalah. My mission is to share this Light with the world using my jewelry designs as the medium for achieving this goal. Through my prayers, it is my wish that the Kabbalistic meditations engraved upon my jewelry bring the wearer blessings, protection, perfect health, prosperity, and miracles. My core collection of jewelry is composed of sterling silver lightly plated in 24K gold. I have chosen this process because the gold wears off over time, the pieces become oxidized and scratched, can become lighter or darker depending on the energy of the person wearing them, and actually take on the individuality and personal expression of one's soul and character. The pieces start to look like antiquities over time, appearing as though they had been uncovered from an archaeological dig, thus physically reflecting the 4000 year old wisdom of Kabbalah.As a gemologist, I have always been fascinated with gemstones and the visualization of color and light. My exclusive and high end collection is composed of gemstones such as pearl, cameo shell, lava stone, hematite, pyrite, amethyst, rock crystal quartz, black tourmaline, onyx, tiger's eye and ruby. The gemstones and minerals I have selected have a rich and earthy feel which serve as a dramatic backdrop for the powerful Kabbalistic meditations I use in my jewelry..
The Spiritual Roots of My Jewelry Kabbalah reveals the spiritual teachings of the universe and hidden secrets of the Torah written in a book called the Zohar, the definitive text of kabbalah. I have studied Kabbalah at the Kabbalah Center in Manhattan for nine years during which time my life has been forever and remarkably transformed through the teachings of Rav and Karen Berg, the founders of the Kabbalah Center. Rav and Karen Berg are directly connected to a lineage of universally known Kabbalists, hence the purity of their teachings. My jewelry is based on Kabbalistic meditations composed of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet which Kabbalah recognizes as the DNA of the universe;; thus, my pieces are engraved with Hebrew letters expressing variations of these meditations. The spiritual power behind these meditations connect one to "mind over matter", total control of one's life, and to a realm of bliss where no chaos exists. Simply scan the engraved letters on my jewelry with your eyes and the energy emanates to your soul and throughout your existence. Kabbalah states that the "eyes are the windows of the soul", so that when you scan the Hebrew letter combinations a spiritual technology takes place as the soul connects to and downloads these energies. I am so happy to share this spiritual knowledge by recommending the following link: www.kabbalah.com. A percentage of the sale of each item purchased will be contributed to Success For Kids, www.successforkids.org a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to end suffering for vulnerable children around the world. Through highly effective spiritual lessons, (SFK) empowers and guides children to realize their own unique purpose and potential in life.