Trunk Treasures Shine at Wednesday Jewelry Showcase

Lake Minnetonka local and jewelry designer Robyne Robinson was at Omorphia in Excelsior last night to showcase the newest collection of her jewelry line, Rox Minneapolis.

Vibrantly colored foreign rocks, gems and stones situated in artisan metals were abundant in the display of earrings and necklaces that guests admired over wine and cheese provided by Omorphia.

Tall, poised and dressed to compliment to her colorful creations in a pink dress she bought in Greece, Robinson was all smiles when telling visitors about her stones coming from all over—from the west coast to cities along the Mediterranean Sea.  

Making jewelry has been a lifelong hobby for Robinson, but it wasn’t a prospect for a serious career until recently. She was an award-winning news anchor for Fox 9 News, where she worked for 20 years before deciding to quit the world of reporting to focus on her jewelry company.

Robinson says the jewelry industry has been a different world compared to television. With Rox, she’s mostly worked on commission and says the pace and people are “different.” The salary is also less.

Rox Minneapolis has enjoyed significant success since its start eight years ago. Robinson sold out on her first day at a jewelry convention in Las Vegas earlier this year, and in September she’ll be showcasing designs at New York City’s Fashion Week.

Inspiration for her jewelry designs stems from a love of travel and foreign culture. Robinson says she has spent a considerable time in Greece (where she met her current boyfriend) and traveling throughout Europe taking in new ideas for jewelry pieces.

She says Germany is rich with interesting bead stores. In Greece, much of the jewelry is redolent of local surroundings with beach themes. Iin France, she says, “everyone’s crazy about charm bracelets. It doesn’t matter what sort of bracelet, they just want charms everywhere.”

Robinson incorporates these influences into her jewelry line. She says she gets her charms and stones abroad, but gets the majority of her metal and fixings in Minnesota.

Robinson’s pieces have been worn by celebrities and been featured in media across the country. She says she's now looking into selling at more boutiques across Europe.

Robinson has also been involved in an assortment of nonprofit arts initiatives across the Twin Cities—founding and funding a number of organizations that aim to further Minneapolis’ art opportunities and culture.

Rox Minneapolis is currently on sale at Omorphia. Other pieces are sold at boutiques in the Twin Cities, Santa Fe, Tampa, Naples, FL., New York, Athens, Greece, and online at www.roxmpls.com.

Click here to check out the Rox Minneapolis Facebook page.