About Us
Rafia Cooper began designing jewelry in 1999. Her career took off after successfully selling her original designs to TV Soap Operas “General Hospital” and “Port Charles.” Shortly thereafter, she made a sample line and showed it to Christie Martin from Nina Segal at Fred Segal’s in Santa Monica which then became the first store ever to carry the Rafia Jewelry line. Ever since then Rafia’s designs have appeared on various TV shows, soap operas, Grammy's, films and on the runway for Mercedes Benz Fashion week. Rafia has had the pleasure of working with several celebrities styling and designing pieces for their specific needs.
Born in Rangoon, Burma, but having lived most of her life in Southern California, Rafia continues to draw influence from the beautiful landscapes that surround her. Many of her designs are inspired by nature and the colors that are visible outdoors which is apparent in her bird and butterfly designs, as well as in her line’s rich colored gems and stones. The newest Color Bloom collection is inspired by the recent mega blooms in Southern California. The Ombre Bar Necklaces are inspired by the colors of the beach and sunsets. The Mini Charm Necklaces and Charm Bangles are also drawn from the same inspiration. The semi-precious stones and charms used in the line are paired with 14karat gold filled and sterling silver chains and findings. Her focus is on layering necklaces and stacking bracelets to create a timeless and delicate look.
Today the Rafia line of jewelry is sold in many boutiques throughout the world. At one point or another it is more than likely Rafia will be in a city near you seeing as she takes part in wholesale trade shows, such as, the Atlanta Gift Show , the ENK and ATS Show in New York, the WWD Magic show in Las Vegas, FMNC in San Francisco, and the California Gift Show in Los Angeles.
In 2011 Rafia asked her daughter if she had any interest in designing a line of jewelry and from that was born VidaKush which is designed by Rhianna Cooper. Both brands are now under the parent company of Cooper Collective.