Jewelry Line Raises Dyslexia Awareness

A.J. Bellabona, owner of AJ Made. Photo by Christine Carignan.

He may still be in high school, but A.J. Bellabona has already designed a line of jewelry and hats worn by celebrities, designed and registered his own trademark and runs his own ecommerce site—all while raising awareness about dyslexia.

Beginning his craft at age 12, Bellabona, now a 16-year-old junior at Oyster River High School in Durham, says his dyslexia caused him to struggle in school. However, a shop class taught him how to work with metals, inspiring the teen, who lives in Madbury, to start designing jewelry. In 2016, he launched AJ Made and developed a product line that includes rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

His designs are inspired by the natural beauty of NH and places he visits. “I get ideas when I go on trips and adventures,” he says. “My crystal line was inspired by a trip to Sedona, Arizona.”

A bracelet designed by Bellabona. Courtesy photo.

Raising awareness of dyslexia factors largely in Bellabona’s business plan, and led him to create his logo (the initials “AJ”) with the “J” intentionally backwards. He created a line of hats bearing the logo and donates the proceeds of every hat sale to NoticeAbility, a nonprofit that helps students with dyslexia uncover their potential. Bellabona says he considers NoticeAbility founder Dean Bragonier both a friend and mentor.

Bellabona is making a custom jewelry piece for a charity auction for Camp Southern Ground, an inclusive, week-long residential camp in Georgia, founded by Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band. He has made pieces for NH organizations, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and White Mountain Waldorf School.

While his parents support and encourage him, they also let Bellabona take the lead, using his own money for supplies and to apply for the trademark. He says running a business isn’t as much fun as making the products, but he is determined to continue growing it and hopes to get his pieces in stores nationwide. For more information, visit madebyaj.com or @ajmadellc on Instagram.