Raizy Pearl - Backstory

MY BUBBIE

                 

Raizy Pearl began as Raizy Pearl Vintage in 2010 as an homage to my late Bubbie (grandmother) whose earliest attempt at design was at the age of 9, fashioning a pattern for a blouse from newspaper and sewing it, by hand, under her dining table in the Belgorodka shtetl (small village) in Russia. 

With her joie de vivre, hopeful heart, and an empty "pocketbook", Raizy (Rose) Katz made her way to Chicago from Ellis Island in the 1920's and was hired as a seamstress within the Chicago fashion industry where she remained until she married.  

Raizy was a lebediker (lively one) and, dare I say, a bit "naughty" for her day. I hung on every word as she shared her escapades, i.e., sneaking upstairs to the young couples' apartment where she'd dance the Charleston with abandon while my Zaidy (grandfather) was away on a job.

While my parents were both working, many of my formative years were spent with Raizy in her one bedroom walk-up apartment in the Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. Albeit small, it always felt like a castle given that she made me feel like a Princess.

Raizy and I shared many an adventure - she'd take my hand in hers as we boarded an EL or bus heading to different areas of the city in search of remnants of fine fabric (I'm still obsessed) for her designs, or to hunt for rare finds in vintage shops. Thus began my collecting of well-made, bespoke, garments and jewelry as early as the age of 6.

Vintage enthusiasts are inextricably drawn to the history and craftsmanship of pieces from yesteryear and prefer their closets to house many well-made, timeless, and sustainable pieces.

MY MAMALA

             

Upon liberation at the tender age of six Cipora Fuchs Katz (my mother), a child Holocaust survivor, emerged from beneath the cold, damp earth, where she was hidden for 22 months. Orphaned and sick from starvation she, and the few family members with whom she survived, made their way to a distant land where the taste of sweet dates would dance on her tongue and the warmth of the desert sun and the scent of the salty sea would give her HOPE (her mantra); where the friendships formed on the kibbutz would serve to strengthen her. 

Suffice it to say 10/7 gutted me, necessitating my need to double down on my expression of Jewish pride (hence the *Am Yisrael Chai* collection of products.) This, coupled with warm memories of my Bubbie (my father’s mother) sparked my desire to relaunch Raizy Pearl.

I welcome you to browse curated vintage, bespoke, pieces and also various and sundry tried and true things I love. I‘m superstitious (apple falls not far from the tree) but even if you’re just a “little stitious” ; ) you’ll want to check out my favorite pendants whose texture is made from a stone imprint from the Kotel (Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem. 

Simona

20% of sales proceeds from the Liza Shtromberg  jewelry collection to benefit Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.