Rosanna Bowles admits she had to think creatively. "What am I going to do with a master's degree in Italian literature?" she asked herself upon completing her M.A. in Italian ('79).
But she resourcefully combined her language fluency with her undergraduate degree in art history from Portland State to create a unique and prosperous career.
Since 1982 -- when she established her company, Rosanna, Inc. -- she has been designing and marketing tableware inspired by European art and culture.
THE ENTREPRENEUR
Bowles originally founded her company by traveling to Perugia, Italy, and working with local artisans to develop ceramics based on her own designs, which she then imported back to the U.S. Her design team in Seattle now develops the company's designs, and the final ceramic and glassware products are produced by manufacturers in multiple countries and distributed worldwide.
• Started her company as a one-woman business on a small loan; now has 19 employees, $10 million in sales and a catalog featuring 40 collections.
• Received early training in the field from her parents, who ran a small giftware sales company in Portland.
• Her late mother, a Julia Child devotee, was an inspiration: fond of hosting themed dinners or throwing a tablecloth on the floor as a setting for a Japanese-style meal.
• Travels for creative inspiration; draws parallels between her scouting expeditions to museums, markets and churches, and the designs that result.
• Designs have been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, People, The New York Times, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, Bazaar, Elle, Real Simple, Country Living, Family Circle, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens, Lucky, Vogue (Latino America), Living Etc., Wedding Bells and Chocolat.
With each season's catalog, Bowles picks a charity to benefit from the profits from a particular line. Beneficiaries have included Child Haven in Seattle, Doctors Without Borders and Hurricane Katrina relief services. Her 11-year-old daughter, Francesca, designed her own line -- "Portrait of a Young Artist" -- which was inspired by the artwork of the European masters and will help support Seattle public schools.
The UO will now be a recipient of Bowles' philanthropic generosity. Her holiday 2008 collection includes the Oregon-inspired "Boho Glass" line featuring 100% hand-decorated, recycled glass repurposed as tumblers, votives and hurricanes. It also includes the Duck-green "Dinner Party" line of scalloped dishes, dinner plates, bowls and mugs. Both lines will benefit the UO Department of Romance Languages.
The Boho Glass and Duck Dinner Party lines will be sold at the Duck Store in Portland and can be ordered online at www.rosannainc.com.
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