Who We Are

Julie K. and Leslie Danzis are two inseparable friends. The two have always admired each other's strengths and dreamed of combining their talents to create something extraordinary. Drum roll please…

Stadium Gem!

Julie is a spirited psychologist living in New York City with a creative and entrepreneurial spark that has yearned to be ignited. Growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Julie developed a love for game days. Julie remains immersed in the vibrant college sports culture including that of her alma mater, CU-Boulder. Go Buffs!

Leslie is a passionate jewelry designer and innovator, known for her exquisite taste, eye for detail, glamorous style, and impressive tenure in the fashion world. In 1989, she launched Leslie Danzis Designs and soon started selling her costume jewelry door to door to retailers/boutiques in New York City. What started out as an entrepreneurial idea soon became a profitable business. Leslie has spent the last several years quietly sketching, conceptualizing, and manufacturing pieces that ended up in collections that she never got to take credit for publicly.

On a recent trip to Chapel Hill in the late Summer of 2022, Julie noticed how her hometown brimmed with excitement, eager to cheer on their Heels. Julie noticed the opportunity to blend Leslie’s talent for jewelry design with her own passion for game day and all the festivities.

Over a bowl of shrimp pasta at their favorite local Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, Julie shared her idea of creating a fan base-inspired jewelry line. This line would capture the spirit and camaraderie of college sports events, as each piece would tell a unique story and reflect the wearer’s individuality. They decided to embark on this entrepreneurial adventure together, combining Leslie’s expertise and Julie’s knowledge of the college sports scene, and, well, positive psychology.

Julie and Leslie’s story is a testament to the power of collaboration, determination, and believing in oneself. They proved (and will continue to prove!) that when talents and aspirations align, remarkable things can happen, and dreams can sparkle like the most precious gemstones in the world.