Jewellery maker with celebrity fans reflects on kitchen table start to career

A Dublin designer whose jewellery has won her fans among TV and music stars has reflected on a career that started crafting pieces on the kitchen table.

Derry Girls actress and The Traitors Ireland host Siobhan McSweeney and singer CMAT have both appeared on screen wearing earrings made by Daki Zdravka Rezic.

The 46-year-old’s varied career path saw her study to be a midwife and a Montessori teacher and she also worked as a special needs assistant in a secondary school.

But jewellery remained her passion and Ms Rezic decided to follow that dream and enrol in a course at the National College of Art and Design.

This year she has had the added exposure that comes when high-profile stars wear your creations.

McSweeney wore four sets of her handmade earrings during The Traitors Ireland, while music artist CMAT wore a pair in the video for her song When A Good Man Cries.

“I was watching The Traitors and she (Siobhan) wore four of my brass and aluminium pieces throughout different episodes, and later bought a pair for herself,” said Ms Rezic, who originally hails from Croatia.

“It was so nice that people recognised my work and reached out with lovely messages, it gave my work more exposure.

“She looked great wearing them, what a person she is, she was a legend in the show and in Derry Girls.”

Ms Rezic, who is from Deansgrange, is an advocate of sustainability and uses upcycled and recycled materials in her work.

She said a borrowed book provided the inspiration for her career switch to jewellery making.

“The book was called The Artist’s Way, about creative discovery, I didn’t even finish it because it unleashed something in me and that’s where it started,” she said.

“I started this from my kitchen table, I never thought I’d see this.

“I make accessories for everyday use, vibrant and chic pieces that make you feel good.

“They are made in small batches, they are bold yet wearable, and no two pieces are exactly the same.

“The jewellery I create says that it’s OK to be a bit different, to stand out a bit.”

Ms Rezic’s work will feature in Gifted – the Contemporary Craft and Design Fair, which will be hosted in Dublin’s RDS from December 3-7.