Gladys Knight To Launch Jewelry Line

Article written by: SoJones Asmara
Posted on: April 30, 2009

Award winning singer, songwriter, actress, author, humanitarian and accomplished businesswoman, Gladys Knight, will launch her own jewelry line with the LaRoda Group and Robert Rose Jewelry. Ms. Knight’s magic and charm will be captured in an exciting line of exclusively-designed fashion accessories and will be launched in December 2009 a popular internet shopping site.

LaRoda is known as a savvy deal maker, producer and executive producer who has handled major events such as the Annual Plymouth Jazz Festival Tobago featuring Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart and Shakira, to the Annual THISDAY Music Festival with Jay Z, Usher and Mary J. Blige. His LaRoda Group based in Los Angeles, CA, is a licensing, branding and intellectual properties company and partners in Sammy Davis, Jr. Enterprises, Inc. Barrett LaRoda linked Robert Rose Jewelry with his newly formed executive management team for Ms. Knight, as he stated:

“When Knight, William McDowell, VP of Shakeji Inc., and Steve Walker, VP of FreestyleMac, LLC., approached me to create an exclusive jewelry line, I knew that Robert Rose Jewelry would be the perfect partner based on its quality and reputation.”

Robert Rose Jewelry is based in New York and known as a leader in fashion jewelry with its up to the minute styling and quality at affordable prices. Last Earth Day, Robert Rose launched its environmentally friendly Eco-Chic collection.

Gary Rose of Robert Rose Jewelry is delighted about this collaboration as they found Gladys Knight to be an incredible combination of class, timeless style and personal warmth. As for the jewelry line itself, he envisioned the line to have earth-friendly elements.

“Among the many components we hope to use in her line will be friendly elements like recycled glass, fair trade beads and parts made from Tagua nuts (a sustainable rainforest crop often referred to as vegetable ivory).”

About Ms. Knight’s involvement in the designing process, LaRoda added:

“Gladys Knight has been involved in every phase of the design process and has brought her creativity, personality and artistic input in creating what I know will be a very popular and quality brand.”

Ms. Knight is also thrilled to work with Robert Rose Jewelry:

“My team and I were impressed with Gary Rose, CEO of Robert Rose Jewelry, and its family oriented organization as well as their mission to provide quality jewelry for the working woman and appeal to those who are just fashion forward. I am excited to work with a company that shares our ideas of creating natural products that are not only environmentally friendly, but also creates jobs. The affordable prices of the new line, along with quality and attention to family, is an unbeatable combination. I thank the Rose family for this opportunity.”

This is not the first humanitarian act for Ms. Knight as her collaboration with Elton John, Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder on the Grammy-winning recording, “That’s What Friends Are For” heightened awareness and raised millions for HIV/AIDS research. The R&B icon’s accomplishment in the music world has been recognized by her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 for her chart-topping recordings as a member of “Gladys Knight and the Pips”. She has mega hits through the decades such as, “Neither One of Us”, “You’re The Best Thing”, “Midnight Train to Georgia”, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Love Overboard”.