Meet Cambree Doll | creative, dancer/performer, designer, entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cambree Doll and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cambree, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks has definitely played a major factor in where I am in my life and career. I’ve never been afraid to go outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself. I think risk and fear go hand in hand. Often times people dont take risks, because they are afraid of the unknown. I’ve always been someone who doesnt like to follow the rules and thinks outside the box. The creative process is the absence of fear, or at least the ability to work through the fear. If you want to pursue your passion of being a creative or an entrepreneur you cant let fear control you and it is absolutely crucial to take risks. I left my family at 13 years old and moved to a completely different state so I could attend a performing arts boarding school and further my training as a dancer, so risk is nothing new to me. I then moved again in my 20s, from my family and friends in NYC, and came to Los Angeles because I felt it was time to shake things up and step outside of my comfort zone. And while I still miss a lot of the aspects of the dance world in NYC I have found my groove here in the entertainment industry and just recently joined a company called Aya Serpent, that fuses dance, fire performing, cirque like shows, and the oneness we have with nature. It took years for me to find my flow here, but I never gave up and was never afraid to keep living what some would call a “risky life”. When I moved from NYC I also transferred from the Fashion Institute of Technology to FIDM here in dtla and that is where I met my now business partner, Rachelle Gopaul Henderson. We created our jewelry line, Doll&Gopaul, all from an idea she had to make ankle cuffs in one of our entrepreneurship classes at FIDM. We have taken so many financial risks when it comes to our business, but they have all led to having our pieces being showcased in international fashion magazines, worn by celebrities, sold in boutiques, on display for stylist pulls at major fashion showrooms here in LA, and a loyal clientele that is continuously growing. The creative/entrepreneur life is a lot of trial and error, major risk taking, sleepless nights and long days, but the reward of living life on your own terms and fulfilling your soul will aways be worth it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a multi hyphenate artist, I cant fit myself into any one box, but I will start with the dance/performer aspect of my life. I have been dancing professionally since I graduated high school. I am continuously evolving as a performer and have done everything from concert dance company work, to the more commercial side of dance, and now most recently becoming a fire dancer/performer. I was working with an entertainment company here in LA, as the talent who would get hired for different clubs, parties, and events, and that is where the fire performing came to be. There were not many people in the company who were fire performers and they were always getting requests for them, so I thought to myself, if I learned to do this I will most likely always be booked because there were not as many people willing to take the risk of performing with fire. I have fused my dance training with the fire tricks and it has honestly been a game changer for me. It is always so exciting to create a show, based on what the event calls for, and see how my performance is helping to create the vibe/moment. Now onto Doll+Gopaul, my jewelry brand that I own with my business partner Rachelle Gopaul Henderson. Our slogan for our line is Feminine and powerful + a touch of wild. We believe that jewelry and attention to detail is really what can set the most basic outfit apart from something more elevated, so we created a line of 14k gold filled and solid gold jewelry where we use semi precious stones, healing crystals, swarovski crystals, pearls and diamonds. The intention behind the brand is to fuse our spirituality, cultures, and love of crystals to create timeless pieces that will withstand the test of time not only through design aesthetic, but also with the materials we use. Since most of our line is made with 14k gold filled metals, as opposed to gold plated, it has almost the same durability as solid gold for a fraction of the price. We specialize in body jewelry so, hand chains, body chains, foot pieces, garters, and crystal bras, but we also have the staple pieces such as earrings and necklaces.
So those designs along with the materials we use is certainly what sets us apart from other brands. We make a lot of custom pieces, specifically body chains and hand chains, where the customer can choose their crystals based on what their soul is feeling called to at the time and that is something most brands do not offer. We are a small business so have done almost everything on our own, from the funding, designs, marketing, creative direction, some of the photography, social media, the list goes on and on and the work is hard, but its our baby and we continue to grow and evolve year after year. The biggest lesson, as cliche as it may sound, is to never give up on your vision and to always listen to your intuition. We have been years ahead of so many trends that are just now happening in the jewelry industry so that along with our passion is the motivation that keeps us going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take them to the beach, specifically Malibu, and go eat at Malibu Seafood or Neptune’s Net. Silver Lake/echo park are dope areas to go to if you are looking for more unique less commercialized places to go eat, drink, and shop. Mama Shelter is a rooftop bar I would definitely take them to that has a really great house music event on Sundays. A visit to Venice would be a must, its such a vibe that is so unique to LA. Petit Ermitage would be a stop as well for another rooftop moment followed by an intimate burlesque style show that takes place there. A hike to Escondido falls or the Griffith observatory would for sure be a necessity as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost my family. They have helped nurture my wild creative spirit since I was a child. My granny has always said “dance chose me I didnt choose dance”, so luckily I have had a family who has done nothing but let me be me and make my own decisions on how I wanted to live my life, even if it was the riskier decision. Making them proud is always in the forefront of my mind because they have been there every single step of the way. I have also been blessed with the most amazing group of friends/my soul family, most of us creatives. We are always there for each other, to push, support, and inspire one another. My dance teachers and mentors throughout this journey, too many of them to mention, have also played a huge role in my growth as an artist. A very pivotal step in my dance journey was my training at The Ailey School in NYC, I can not even begin to put into words what that experience was like. The life long knowledge and inspiration I gained from dancing there and being surrounded by so many legends really shaped me into the performer I am today.

Website: dollandgopaul.com

Instagram: @cambreedoll @dollandgopaul