Jewelry designer Orit Harel (who goes by the mononym Orit) has always marched to the beat of her own drummer. So it's no wonder her creations at Tiro Jewelry stand out from the rest.
In a recent exclusive interview the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, resident explained, "I was a very creative human being since I remember… If it's been creating my clothes or dressing a little bit different than everybody else… I had to have a look." And now the designer has translated her unique style into one of a kind statement pieces.
Orit's Has Been Making Jewelry for Five Years
Orit began making jewelry five years ago. After studying design overseas and in the U.S., she knew she had found her calling. "I had ideas that were very exciting to me, that I couldn't wait until I finished the piece... I had to see it done. I had to see it in my eyes exactly what I see in my imagination… I always knew, all my life, that I'm going to end up doing jewelry."
Orit's Jewelry Creations Are Mini-Sculptures
Orit's designs are like nothing you've ever seen before. They are bold, ornate, gilded mini-sculptures. She described her pieces using words like dramatic and flamboyant stating, "It does have some sophistication to it, not ordinary… a bit artistic."
Currently the line consists mainly of rings — some stand two inches above the finger or cover the whole hand. She is also working on a necklace that she called "huge" and plans to add bracelets and other pieces soon. She acknowledged, "It's going to be more crazy, unique, dramatic bold looking pieces."
Orit claimed that no one designer has influenced her work. She said, "There [is] jewelry that was made here and there that sometimes I take a bit of here, a bit of there." But she continued that she mostly draws her inspiration from her environment. "I take a look at a leaf on the ground and start to imagine how I'm going to make a bracelet out of it. I get imagination from actually everything that's around me. It can even be a piece of furniture or staircase with different designs. I'm just open to anything."
Orit's designs are one of a kind but she does not do custom work. She confessed, "I do only the designs that I do that come from my little head. I don't do special orders. I don’t change the designs. The only thing I am changing is people like different colors of stones on the designs, I gladly will do that because color is different."
She added, "My concept is you have to love it or it's not for you. I cannot just make everybody happy or everybody want to wear my pieces. And it's okay because that's how we all individualize. That's what makes us more unique."
Orit's Other Passion Is Animals
Jewelry design is not Orit's only passion. She also has an intense interest in animals and she hopes to combine her two loves someday. She plans on expanding her jewelry line to include items for her furry friends. She pointed out, "My line is not all about the diamonds. It’s more about the design itself, the look, the drama. So the pet jewelry I want to get into this unique look for pets."
But in the meantime, she donates a portion of all of her proceeds to animal shelters. She currently gives to ASPCA and the Humane Society but is in the process of seeking out smaller organizations in need. She professed, "Everything will be donated to animals because this is my life passion. This is my mission in life. I love them. I think they are the angels of the earth and I don’t think every angel needs to have wings."
She added, "I think we have to protect every soul on this earth… This is my dream to do a lot for animals. I want to use my success to do good things."
Orit's creations are available only through her website although she hopes to expand to other distribution in the near future.
Nancy Harrington - Sisters Amy and Nancy Harrington, the Pop Culture Passionistas, are huge pop culture fans. In fact, you could say it's their passion. ...
