Los Angeles-based designer Shahla Kareen discovered her passion for jewellery almost by accident, never dreaming she would one day spin it into a commercially successful brand.

The founder of Ludevine started making jewellery in 2002, inspired by a piece she saw in a luxury department store.

"I was wandering around Barneys New York and was struck by a pair of graduating Peruvian opal drop earrings constructed by method of wire wrapping. I got pulled into the detail of the wire looping around the chain and then wrapping around itself, and so on," says Kareen. "There was a logic to it that clicked for me."

She went to her neighbourhood and found similar, though cheaper, Peruvian opals, picked up some tools and went to work, almost recreating the pair she'd seen in Barneys, "though mine cost US$88 versus the US$3,500 price tag of the others"

Kareen started making more items for herself, family and friends, but never thou ... Read more »