V a l e n t i n a Juncaj *
“It's always a never ending journey” - Valentina (Val) Juncaj
Valentinas boss girl journey began in Montenegro a small and beautiful country in Europe. She remembers little but the memory of her loving family next door. When she was around 5, her father packed up his family of 4 and migrated to America.
She started Kindergarten right away and became fluent in english very quickly. Growing up, Val wanted to be a CEO, a businesswoman. Coming from hard working Immigrant parents she felt it necessary “to live the standard American dream.” She says, ”that's stability to them.”
“At the time immigrant parents were working in factories and at restaurants. They didn’t want a physical labor job for their children. ”
As Val got older she noticed two things, she excelled in Art and Math. She says, “back then I don't think being artistic was celebrated as much, the only thing promoted to do in art was being a painter.”
When it was time for college she went to Oakland University for finance.
While in college Val was determined and focused on being the best business woman she could be so she immediately started working for an insurance company and received an internship at a market research firm. She excelled at the internship. She said, “I was good at taking directions, I could multitask, and learn quickly. I was excited about work.” When she graduated they hired her full time. Although Val was growing and thriving at her company she was missing something. She decided it was time to start a business.
Around 2010 she began throwing ideas around with a close friend at the time and the idea hit her. Jewelry. “People always came to me for styling and to borrow my jewelry. Maybe they couldn’t fit my clothes or shoes but they could always come for my jewelry.” She started down the research rabbit hole of google and figured out how to get a Tax ID, how to wholesale, how to find manufacturers, how to build connections, build a website, visuals and e-commerce. After months of working on her jewelry brand and her full time job she was ready to part ways with her partner.
Val began to look for the next step in her career. She spent time reflecting and learning. She knew that this time around in her company she had to take things to the next level. She learned how to make jewelry herself. Val began to sauter pieces together, oxidize brass and lacquer pieces. She got in close and networked and learned from goldsmiths and jewelry makers. After she learned the basics of jewelry making She spent another year of research. It’s more than jewelry with Valentina she says “ I am working to create wearable art and to get it to the masses for people to enjoy it.”
“The whole time I was preparing for this brand I was thinking what inspired me this whole time. What does this jewelry and brand mean and what am I trying to say?”
Then, it came to her. Vajze, an Albanian word for a girl, an unmarried girl, a young girl. She wanted the brand to be “versatile, unique, classic, edgy. I wanted every woman to wear it in different stages of life.”
Inspiration comes to Valentina everywhere. She says, “I'll have certain times in mind when I want to launch a collection ideas come to me everywhere, I’ll sketch it out on a napkin paper.” While in Europe on vacation she was inspired by the style of the women.
The next step in her creative process is to gets a computer animated design of her idea. Then she gets a plastic model of the design to ensure its wearable. After she is satisfied she gets the design in full form and wears it around before she launches a full collection. T
his process can take a year before she feels it’s ready. There's always hiccups along the way but Val says she wants Vajze to be, “unique and inclusive and timeless. I want it to be a very strong, powerful feminine brand and help give women confidence.”
When it comes to balancing her full time job and Vajze Val says, “I don't know if there's balance but time management is key.” She makes sure to schedule time for reflecting and meditating. She says, “set your priorities, make a list and write it down know when you need to get it done.”
In the future Val wants a physical space for people to experience Vajze in a different way, not just view the pieces but see how it's made. She is expanding into accessories for mens. She also plans to start a podcast soon. Vajze is involved with nonprofits that give back to young girls and women. A few non profits she supports are Simply From The Heart, Detroit Phoenix Center and Glam 4 Good. Val says being an entrepreneur, “ is as glamorous as it seems, I work very hard for you to see the finished brand. You have to work very hard for anything in this world so make sure it's something you love.”
Vajze jewelry has been seen on Bebe rexha, Tiffany Boone, Jeannie Mai, Emina Cunmulaj, Nastia Liukin, Miss Universe 2019 Catriona Gray, Miss America 2019 Sarah Rose Summers, Miss Universe 2020 Zozi Tunzi, Miss Teen USA 2020 Kaliegh Garris and more.
