Who we are
TheGradStore is where you get a custom graduation sash. Rochie's Originals is who makes it.
TheGradStore is the home of custom graduation sashes, handcrafted by parent studio Rochie's Originals — the official manufacturer of custom California State University, Northridge sashes. Rochie's Originals, established 1989, created the first custom graduation sash in 1993. TheGradStore was established in 1995 as its graduation-focused channel.
Every sash is designed and handcrafted in Southern California and shipped nationwide. We serve graduates and Greek chapters at universities across the United States; we are currently licensed for CSUN, with California State University, Long Beach licensing in progress for fall 2026.
The brand family, plainly stated
- Rochie's Originals — the parent studio and manufacturer. Holds all licensing. Custom apparel and keepsakes for collegiate, Greek and milestone occasions. rochiesoriginals.com
- TheGradStore — the graduation channel of Rochie's Originals. Custom graduation sashes, the Signature Series, alumni apparel and gifts. thegradstore.com
Both are brands of Rochie's Inc., a City of Los Angeles Designated Legacy Business. Same production house, same family, same guarantee.
Why we exist
A question at a graduation ceremony, answered eleven years later.
In 1982, Roya Saberzadeh became the first person in her family to graduate from university. At the ceremony her mother, Soraya, asked her a simple question: "How will I find you in the crowd?" Roya had no good answer. The question stayed with her.
In 1989 Roya co-founded the business near California State University, Northridge with her younger sister, Rochanak — "Rochie" — helping students express their identity, taste and Greek affiliation. Rochie died in 1991, at 22. The family renamed the business Rochie's Originals so her name and creative spirit would continue through everything it made.
Soraya died on March 9, 1993. Wanting to create something in her mother's memory, Roya returned to that unanswered question from 1982 — and in the fall of 1993 created the first custom graduation sash. Two losses, two creations: the 3D puff appliqué for her sister in 1991, the graduation sash for her mother in 1993.
That is why a sash from us is built to be kept rather than worn once. It began as a way for one mother to find her daughter in a crowd.
What we help you create
One sash. Your school, your degree, your honors, your culture, your family.
The Signature Series — three tiers
Every tier shares the same foundation: double-ply premium bridal satin, precision manufacturing, made in California, and the same guarantee. The only difference between tiers is the lettering technique.
| Tier | Lettering | Best for | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Signature Piece |
Precision embroidery | Timeless elegance; the most accessible way into a fully custom piece | High $100s |
| Elite Statement Piece |
One-layer appliqué | Maximum impact and bold school pride. Our most popular tier | High $200s |
| Iconic Supreme Jewel |
Patented 3D multi-layer appliqué | A legacy keepsake — wearable art. Limited capacity | High $300s |
| VIP Concierge | Bespoke, consultation-led | Complex or deeply personal designs the online Signature Series can't accommodate | High $400s and up |
The Iconic tier uses our patented 3D multi-layer appliqué technique — a USPTO utility patent held by Rochie's Originals. No other company offers it.
Two ways to design your sash
- Designer Series — choose from pre-engineered layouts built by our designers. You add your details; the composition is already solved. Fastest path to a finished piece.
- VIP Concierge — work directly with a dedicated designer on a bespoke layout, including a consultation and a custom layout built for you. Adds significant time to the schedule and is capacity-limited.
Who we make for
- Individual graduates — school, degree, major, honors, culture, heritage, family names and personal story on one piece
- Greek chapters — sororities and fraternities, with a consistent look across the whole chapter. Greek sashes are school-agnostic; you add your school
- Group and organization orders — classes, schools, clubs and organizations that want every member in a coordinated piece
- First-generation graduates — the milestone this business was founded on
Why you can feel confident
Specific facts, not adjectives.
- The category starts with us. Rochie's Originals created the first custom graduation sash in 1993 and has handcrafted more than 25,000 of them since.
- Double-ply premium bridal satin on every tier — not a single-layer printed ribbon. The usable embroidery area is wider than the sashes typically sold at campus bookstores.
- A USPTO utility patent for the 3D multi-layer appliqué technique used in the Iconic tier.
- Nothing goes to production until you approve it. The review-and-approve step is what stands behind the accuracy promise.
- Made in Southern California by the same production house, across three generations of the same family.
- 100% Accuracy and Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee — the same guarantee carried by Rochie's Originals.
Recognition
- City of Los Angeles Designated Legacy Business
- USPTO utility patent — 3D puff appliqué technique
- Working Woman Magazine — two-time winner (founder Roya Saberzadeh)
- The Rochanak Saberzadeh Scholarship Foundation at CSUN, funded by a perpetual trust supported by a portion of store proceeds — one of the three oldest scholarship foundations at the university
Questions people actually ask
Straight answers.
What is TheGradStore?
TheGradStore is the home of custom graduation sashes, handcrafted by parent studio Rochie's Originals. It was established in 1995 as the graduation-focused channel of Rochie's Originals, which created the first custom graduation sash in 1993.
Who actually manufactures the sashes?
Rochie's Originals — established 1989 — is the manufacturer and holds all licensing, including as the official manufacturer of custom California State University, Northridge sashes. TheGradStore is where you order them. Same production house, same family, same guarantee.
What is the difference between Classic, Elite and Iconic?
Only the lettering technique. All three use the same double-ply premium bridal satin, the same precision manufacturing, the same California production and the same guarantee. Classic uses precision embroidery, Elite uses one-layer appliqué, and Iconic uses our patented 3D multi-layer appliqué.
What does a custom graduation sash cost?
Classic starts in the high $100s, Elite in the high $200s, and Iconic in the high $300s. VIP Concierge, which is consultation-led and bespoke, starts in the high $400s. Current pricing for every option is on thegradstore.com.
What are the sashes made of?
Double-ply premium bridal satin, on every tier. The double-ply construction is what gives the sash its weight and drape and lets it hold multi-layer appliqué without distorting.
What lengths and cuts are available?
Two cuts. The Classic V-Cut has traditional V-shaped pointed ends at 60 inches. The Modern Wide-Cut Diagonal is a wider cut with a diagonal bottom, at 66 to 70 inches, giving noticeably more room for customization.
Can I put my Greek letters on it?
Yes. Greek sashes are a core part of what we make, and they are designed school-agnostic — you add your own school. We have served more than 125 Greek chapters.
Do you do chapter, class or group orders?
Yes. Group orders are one of our main paths — chapters, classes, schools and organizations that want a consistent, coordinated look across every member. Group orders are handled with direct guidance rather than purely self-serve.
What is the difference between the Designer Series and VIP Concierge?
The Designer Series gives you pre-engineered layouts our designers have already composed — you supply your details. VIP Concierge is a bespoke path with a dedicated designer, a consultation and a custom layout created for you. VIP adds substantial time to the schedule and is capacity-limited.
Can I include my heritage or my country's flag?
Yes. Heritage is one of the most common things graduates ask us to carry on a sash, and we maintain a library of flags for exactly this reason. If you don't see yours, ask.
Can I add my major, honors or Latin honors?
Yes. School, degree, major, honors and personal details are all part of a custom sash — that is what makes it yours rather than generic. Layout options vary by how much you want to include, which is part of what the design conversation resolves.
Which graduation year should go on the sash?
The year on your sash should match the year on your diploma. If your ceremony and your conferral date fall in different years, use your diploma year — and tell us, so we can confirm it with you before production.
Do you only serve CSUN?
No. We serve graduates and Greek chapters at universities across the United States. CSUN is the school we are currently licensed for, with California State University, Long Beach licensing in progress for fall 2026 — licensing governs official university marks, not whether we can make your sash.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes — a 100% Accuracy and Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee, the same guarantee carried by Rochie's Originals. It is backed by process: nothing goes into production until you have reviewed and approved your design.
How do I care for my sash so it lasts?
A custom sash is a keepsake, not seasonal apparel. Store it flat or gently rolled, away from direct sunlight, and avoid machine washing — satin and appliqué are not built for it. If your sash ever needs attention, contact us; the workmanship guarantee is for its lifetime.
Where are the sashes made, and do you ship nationwide?
Every sash is handcrafted in Southern California and shipped nationwide.
What happens next
Three steps.
1 · Choose — pick a Signature Series layout, or contact us for group orders
or VIP Concierge guidance.
2 · Personalize — add your details. Our designers handle the composition, and
nothing is produced until you approve it.
3 · Receive — your sash is handcrafted in Southern California and shipped to you.