By Alison Bologna
You may have seen Alex and Ani's jewelry in major fashion magazines or on the arms of celebrities.
The company's head designer, Carolyn Rafaelian, comes from a family of Rhode Island jewelers.
She lives in the Ocean State and has chosen Cranston for the company's new world headquarters.
"This is just really a dream come true," she said at a press conference Monday.
Alex and Ani is an eco-friendly jewelry, lifestyle brand.
Rafaelian named the company after her two daughters and patented a signature line of bangles, rings and necklaces.
According to the company, it's growing at an accelerating and unprecedented rate.
Rafaelian said Alex and Ani is committed to being made in America and after a year-long search, the company chose to base its new headquarters in Chapel View in Cranston.
She said the space will allow them to occupy several floors with a retail room, offices, a suite for meetings and eventually a rooftop with a view of the greater Providence area.
"Chapel View is centrally located amongst the state's major roadways. It's an excellent location next to the airport, and really accessible for all Rhode Islanders and those out of state who want to come to a prime retail area as well as an overall commerce location," Feroce said.
In Rhode Island, the company has a signature store in Newport on Bowen's Wharf.
In tune with the company's mission to design enlightening products with an emphasis on awareness and empowerment, a new bracelet is out to support relief efforts in Japan.
"It's called a Black Obsidian bracelet. The qualities of that particular stone with the research we've done and the meaning, are that it has healing, protection and peace as the three words associated with it," said Giovanni Feroce, CEO for Alex and Ani, Inc.
The company said its hoping the new space will be open by mid-summer.