Armenian heritage inspires the Kardashians

There were screams, shouts, laughs and lines of people anxiously waiting, some wearing flat shoes, but most with high heels. And there was talk of girls falling over for the three brunette sisters who have made it sexy to be curvy and who let it be known that it’s just fine for successful businesswomen to be fabulous and beautiful.

Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, the stars of the E! reality television show “Keeping up with the Kardashians,� made an appearance Saturday at the Nordstrom at Fashion Island in Newport Beach for the launch of their new jewelry line, the Kardashian Collection by Virgins Saints & Angels.

“The three of us love to collaborate with each other and when we had the opportunity to create a design, Virgins Saints & Angels approached us, and we felt like they allowed us to express ourselves,� Kim Kardashian said about the collection.

The Kardashian sisters expressed themselves by channeling their ancestors.

The collection is inspired by the sisters’ Armenian heritage — from its religious cross to its cultural symbols, like the Armenian star. And it is done in honor of their late father, Robert, and their Armenian roots.

“Our father is Armenian; we are fourth-generation Armenians. We didn’t grow up speaking the language, but we had a strong Armenian presence in our lives,� said Kim Kardashian, whose website receives about 6.7 million views a month, according to a Los Angeles Times article.

And perhaps there was no better day to honor their ancestors than on the anniversary of a tragic time for their forefather’s country — the Armenian Genocide.

A day before their visit to Fashion Island, the sisters made an announcement on their websites.

“On the anniversary of such a tragic time in our history, we hope that we can honor those who died by celebrating our culture and sharing it with you guys,� wrote the eldest of the three, Kourtney Kardashian.

There’s a bit of Armenian history behind each piece of their collection, Kim Kardashian said.

By the time the sisters were ready to get out on the main floor for a meet-and-greet session with fans, the lines were out the door and hundreds waited in anticipation.

The Kardashians’ fans were not just women.

When Daniel Klingler found out that the sisters’ collection was being launched at Nordstrom in Fashion Island, he came all the way from Wisconsin.

“I’m here for their jewelry line, he said. “I wanted to get something for my best friend; it’s her birthday.�

The collection was debuted at Nordstrom’s Trend Boutique on Saturday, and it is scheduled to ship to other Nordstrom Trend boutiques in the next two weeks, said Tara Miko Grayless from Virgins Saints & Angels.

Marinna Casey came from San Francisco just to meet the sisters. Kristy DeBernardi, Marinna’s friend, came along from Beverly Hills.

And there were also children who knew who the Kardashians were and wanted to meet them. Newport Beach resident Heather David brought her two girls, Julia, 11, and Emily, 8, after they found out about the sister’s scheduled appearance.

Julia said she was first introduced to the Kardashians through her baby sitter, who watches their television show, and she grew to like watching it herself.

While David has to censor some of the show’s episodes, she said the Kardashians bring about a good message for young girls.

“They are not inheriting money and spending it, they are working and showing women that you too can start your own jewelry line, that you can be an entrepreneur,� she said.

Asked how they see the collection evolving, Khloe Kardashian, the youngest of the three, said, “It’s such an honor to be here. Nordstrom is the ultimate place and to have our jewelry line here ... it’s off to a pretty good start.�

Following their appearance, the busy sisters were scheduled to fly to Las Vegas to celebrate Kourtney Kardashian’s 31st birthday.

“... At Kourtney’s birthday, we will be toasting to the future and honoring the past,� wrote Khloe on her website.