Fashion-Loving Teen's Bracelet Business Inspired by 'Guardian Angel' Brother

Chloe Wisner wears her heart on her wrist.

At 19 years old, Wisner is the owner and founder of June 1989, an online jewelry store inspired by the memory of her big brother Alex, who passed away in October 2000, at age 11, from spinal meningitis.

“June 1989 is his birthday,” said Wisner, a Macomb Township resident. “His symbol is a dragonfly. I wanted (to create) something special that means something to me.”

That “something” has become a fast-growing jewelry business in which Wisner creates and sells handmade bracelets based on her own original designs.

“I was just going to make designs for myself, but it’s grown so much more,” Wisner said. “Not only do people want my designs, but they want to hear what I have to say about the dragonfly and they like the story behind it.”

So whether the bracelet is bound for a friend’s home in Macomb, or a distant address in Russia, every June 1989 item has one common feature.

“Every bracelet has a little dragonfly,” Wisner said. “When (Alex) died, we all came out of the funeral home and we were surrounded by dragonflies, and every time we went to the cemetery, there were dragonflies. A dragonfly always seems to pop up when I’m having a bad day. He’s a little, flying guardian angel.”

Drawing strength from her faith, many of Wisner’s designs also feature a cross.

“I love crosses and I thought I could incorporate (Alex) into it as well as God. I love it because every time I look down, I see my brother and God and I hope everyone else does, too.”

Although Wisner was only 8 years old when her brother died, neither she, nor her mother, Collette Osuna, believe Alex has ever stopped watching over their family. 

“(Alex) took care of Chloe, so maybe (her success) is his way of taking care of her still,” Osuna, 43, said. “This has been healing for her … healing for her and anyone who has ever lost anyone.”

“When I pray at night, I talk to him and tell him about the business,” Wisner said. “I think he’d be proud of me and I like to think he would want to help out.”

Despite the business being only a few weeks old, Wisner has already sold more than 80 bracelets to customers around the world, and is developing new designs daily to add to the already 50 plus bracelets in her online store.

“I never thought it would happen so fast,” Wisner said. “I’ve always wanted to do my own thing, be my own boss.”

A graduate and current student at Macomb Community College, owning and operating June 1989 has also served as a crash-course in the world of small business.

“I’ve learned it takes a lot of time and effort (to run a business),” Wisner said. “I never thought it would be such a big thing, that I’d be doing it every day, but I don’t mind, because it’s something I love doing. I feel really blessed, because it’s my job in a way, but it’s fun to me.”

And her mother couldn’t be prouder.

“I am beyond moved that Chloe has decided to continue Alex’s memory by opening her own online jewelry store,” Osuna said. “This young lady has taken a tragedy, and turned it into a wonderful way of sharing Alex’s story with each and every person who wears one of her bracelets. She says he will continue to live through them, that he will never be forgotten.”

Find June 1989 online at the store website, or follow the company on Facebook and Twitter. The bracelets are also sold at , 21936 23 Mile Road in Macomb, and Luminess Medispa, located within Salon Monaco, at 115 E. University, Rochester.