The Key Magazine Summer 2009 : Page 39
Gorjana Ristic Reidel, Arizona State, has created a brand of jewelry found in more than 600 retail stores. rep, Gorjana and her newlywed husband, Jason, forged their own way. Starting out small in Laguna Beach, Gorjana’s marketing background helped her create a name by focusing on getting her products into the hands of celebrities, which led to magazine and media opportunities. A huge success, her jewelry is now found worldwide, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. While being the president and designer of a The Making of the Gorjana Brand Jewelry Designer Follows her Passion to Success Many Kappas are drawn to our beautiful symbols and imagery—the ornate and stately fleur-de-lis that is admired, and the golden key, always a sentimental favorite. It was only natural for Gorjana Ristic Reidel, Arizona State, to include her modern interpretation of these classic and timeless images in her sought-after jewelry designs. Found in more than 600 retailers and featured in shopping and style magazines like Lucky, InStyle and Marie Claire, Gorjana jewelry is a celebrity favorite, including Sophia Bush, USC (Calif.), who is often seen wearing her favorite Gorjana pieces. Starting with yarn and buttons as a little girl in Yugoslavia, Gorjana’s creativity was spurred at a young age and encouraged by her parents, a pastry chef and an engineer. As a high school student in Canada, it was modeling, fashion and catwalks that captured her creative spirit. But it was jewelry that ultimately became the balance of her influences; imaginative yet structured, eccentric yet simple. After earning a marketing degree from Arizona State, where she served as chapter President of Epsilon Delta in 1999, it was only a few years until Gorjana set out on her own with little more than a single bag of samples with a four-pound Yorkie in tow. Without a showroom or a sales worldwide brand requires a challenging pace, Gorjana says she enjoys being her own boss because it allows her the flexibility to schedule time for her young son, Tristan. A young entrepreneur, Gorjana has achieved in just five years what it takes many companies decades to establish—brand recognition. Gorjana says that she is involved in almost every aspect of the company and is fastidiously attentive to detail and quality. With many talents, design is still Gorjana’s favorite part of the busi- ness—her passion and driving force. She has especially enjoyed creating keys and fleur-de-lis, knowing that some will lovingly end up in the jewelry boxes of Kappas. See Gorjana’s designs at www.gorjana.com. Barnes & Noble Supports Kappa! Shop SEPTEMBER 19-21, 2009 with B&N’s exclusive “Friends & Family Coupon” and support Kappa Kappa Gamma!* & Save-The-DaTe&ShOP! SePTember 19-21, 2009 CODe: 568840 Print Voucher at www.denverkappa.org! *Proceeds benefit Craig Rehabilitation Hospital and Kappa scholarship programs. www.kappa.org • Summer 2009 • The Key • 39
