IGK HAIR

 By Katie Jackson Orianne Collins-Mejjati plays many roles, including an active philanthropist, insightfully creative designer, and most importantly, a mother of three young children. She fuses all three of these roles into her jewelry line, Orianne Collins Jewellery. Now with a boutique located in the burgeoning Design District, her customers are given an eclectic selection of carefully designed pieces that are both timelessly elegant and trendy, all while supporting a profoundly meaningful cause. Collins-Mejjati discovered her love for design in 2003 after working with different brands on special collaborations for the Little Dreams Foundation, the philanthropic organization that she co-founded with ex-husband Phil Collins. With the enormous success of a charm bracelet she had co-designed with Van Cleef & Arpels, she knew that it was time to branch out on her own. “I always wanted to be a fashion designer, and this project made me think that this is something that I really want to do. So I started my own company in 2006.” Inspired by everything around her, Collins-Mejjati can often be found with a pen and sketchbook creating her next piece. “I’m inspired by my travels, by my friends, by the people around me. I don’t want to miss anything. Sometimes it just happens in the middle of the night and I have to have my crayons and start to sketch.” This inspiration wholly translates into her line, with specific destinations even influencing entire collections. After witnessing the beautiful architec- ture in Morocco, Collins-Mejjati was motivated to create her Tales collection. “It’s like the magic from my travels,” she says. Offering a variety of intricately designed rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces for women, Collins-Mejjati also provides pieces for men and children. “I have children, and I create a lot of pieces for them. They test the jewelry, and I know it’s unbreakable. With kids it has to be unbreakable!” With children’s collections filled with adorable charm, like the Glitter and Yummylicious collections, there are plenty of pieces that would make any child’s heart melt. For men, Collins-Mejjati created collections that include sophisticated rings and cufflinks. “Men need some nice jewelry, so I try to offer them some- thing original.” Even with the tremendous success of her line, Collins-Mejjati is always determined to give back. In addition to co-founding and chairing the Little Dreams Foundation, she makes sure that many of the proceeds from her line go directly to the organization. “I create and donate a lot of pieces for auctions, and one hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Little Dreams Foundation.” Collins-Mejjati is confident that Miami is the place to grow her jewelry line and foundation, even opening her boutique in the heart of the up- and-coming Design District. “I think it is going to be the place to be. It’s going to be like SoHo in New York—how it was not very well known, but then became this hip place to go.” When customers enter her boutique, Collins-Mejjati wants to ensure that they feel welcome and know that there this is a piece of jewelry for them. “Everyone is my target customer, and I try to make pieces of jewelry that will reach everybody.” In developing a growing brand that promotes and engages in philanthropy while simultaneously making customers—women, men, and children—feel special, Collins-Mejjati has surely achieved her goal. Orianne Collins Jewellery is located in the Design District at 90 Northeast 39th Street, Miami FL, 33137. To purchase or view Orianne Collins Jewellery online, visit oriannecollins.com. Photography by IMANI OGDEN Stylist: ANNIE VALDIVIA (DOLCE AND GABBANA) Hair: FRANK IZQUIERDO (IGK HAIR, SLS HOTEL)    Click here to view post on the November/December 2014 issue.