Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
For Palisadians Brooke Corson and Jodi Zorensky, having their company Ginger Peachy selected as one of eight Rising Stars at a national jewelry trade show in July was a surprising boost for a business that came into existence only two years ago. Since 2006, Ginger Peachy jewelry has been worn by models for Rocks Republic clothing, Cosmopolitan magazine and on ‘All My Children.’ Their pieces retail from $400 to $15,000 and are exquisite, classic designs that transition from daytime to night. Corson, 30, and Zorensky, 53, are not only business partners but are related: Corson is Zorensky’s niece. The genesis of their partnership started on January 5, 2002, when Corson and another cousin stopped by to visit Zorensky and her husband Elliot for his birthday. Corson was on her way from Chicago to Las Vegas, where she had been hired to work on the reality television show ‘Real World,’ and her cousin was moving to Los Angeles. Instead they both moved in with the Zorenskys. ‘It was the birthday gift that kept giving year-round,’ said Corson, laughing about the decision (and the invitation) to stay. It was fine with the Zorensky family because oldest son Seth was at college and son Alexander would be leaving shortly, meaning that daughter Sydney could inherit two sisters. ‘Alexander soon complained that our home had turned into a sorority house,’ Jodi Zorensky laughed. After a year, both girls had moved to their own apartments, but Corson, who found work at Fred Segal as a jewelry buyer, still spent hours with her aunt. The two speculated about what kind of company they could start. ‘We used to stay up all night talking about what we wanted to do,’ Corson said. ‘We thought about representing other artists,’ Zorensky said. ‘But artists can be difficult people,’ Corson chimed in, ‘and we’re not.’ ‘So I said, ‘Let’s do our own stuff,’ Zorensky said, and they decided to go into jewelry design. (The two are in synch with each other and often finish each other’s sentences.) The name for the company came from Corson’s grandfather and Zorensky’s father-in-law, who when asked how he was, would always respond, ‘Ginger Peachy.’ The two decided that this simple phrase carried a certain optimism. ‘When people say Ginger Peachy it always brings a smile,’ Corson said. They did their research on jewelry manufacturing and learned that if their jewelry were fabricated in a foreign country, and it came back done incorrectly, there would be no way to redress the mistake. They decided instead to stay in America. ‘We went downtown to find a manufacturer, but you still have to be careful,’ Zorensky said. ‘It was a nightmare,’ Corson added. Once they had a manufacturer, they then had to supply the stones, the design and the measurements. The Promise Disc Collection was their first line and represents the little promises that individuals make to themselves. The jewelry, which consists of different colors of gold and sapphires, can be worn with other jewelry pieces. The collection also includes unique cuff links that have stones on the front and underside’one pair was covered with 2.5 carats of black diamonds. Their next collection was the Diamond Eye. ‘It’s meant to be our interpretation of the evil eye,’ Corson said, and Zorensky explained, ‘The diamond enables only positive light to enter while reflecting evil.’ Necklaces from their newest collection, the Cosa Bella (beautiful thing), have just been chosen for JCK Luxury (a jewelry trade magazine). The pieces, which feature moonstones, amethyst, chalcedony and pink opals, are wrapped in pave diamonds. Currently, their pieces are carried in Broken English (Brentwood Country Mart), Pretty Thing (Beverly Hills) and LTH Studio (Studio City), or they can be ordered through the company’s Web site: www.gingerpeachydesgins.com. ‘We would like to be in the Palisades,’ Zorensky said, referring to a local retail outlet. ‘We’re trying to decide whom to go with; we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings,’ Corson said. As Rising Stars, they’ve paired with three other designers with plans to do a collective trunk show in New York City this fall. ‘As much fun as it is to create the jewelry, it’s also just as much fun to have the relationship,’ Corson said. ‘We’ve been really close,’ Zorensky said. ‘It is a good place to be. When you’re in your 50s and your kids are raised, that’s the time to find something that satisfies you, and I can’t imagine a better business partner than Brooke.’ ‘We do have fun and we laugh a lot,’ Corson said. ‘Aunt Jodi is more than a business partner, she’s an amazing person with a big heart . . .and a lot of patience.’ Zorensky husband, Elliot, is co-president of UDO Real Estate on La Cruz. Son Seth is working on his MBA at Pepperdine, Alexander recently graduated from the University of Denver and Sydney attends Hofstra University.
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