RAIA JEWELRY
ABOUT
Raia Jewelry was conceived by Ukrainian born designer Julia Gelfgatt in her studio in Brooklyn, NY. Julia draws inspiration from the strength and the beauty of the world around her to create original designs using natural materials such as raw wood, shell, clay, leather, rope, fabric and metal. Each piece is handcrafted by the designer which lends it one of a kind qualities, whether it’s a unique woodgrain, a shell pattern, or the shade & texture of a glaze. Using an organic approach to design Julia lets each material guide the form & function of the final piece of jewelry.
Raia pieces have been described as architectural, modern, strong, natural, and simple yet with sophisticated construction. Each piece can transform an outfit, a wardrobe, or a state of mind.
The name of the line comes from the first name of Julia’s grandmother, and the russian word rai, which means paradise.
Julia was born in the Ukraine and raised on the West and East Coasts of the United States. She studied art history and painting at Boston University. After moving to New York and briefly working in film, she attended Parsons, the New School for Design, where she studied apparel design. After years of working as a designer for major brands in New York Julia decided to take time off and focus on personal projects, which led to the creation of Raia. Raia is the physical manifestation of Julia’s experiences and travels, and a starting point for further artistic exploration.