JULES KIM.
(photo by Francois Dischinger)
Jules Kim was one of the first friends I made when I first moved to New York City many moons ago. I was (and admittedly, still am) hopelessly uncool especially compared to this gorgeous stylish creative creature, but she was nice to me anyway. Over the years we’ve remained friends, and I continue to marvel at the strides she is making with her jewelry line, Bijules. Launched in 2004, each collection has been more inspired and intriguing than the last, garnering international press as well as a small army of celebrity clients, including MIA, Karen O, Beyonce, Eve, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Gwen Stefani, Peaches, Katy Perry, Fergie and Britney Spears.
You can check out her collections at
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Check out this video,
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1. You recently held two charity events titled “Flip Fashion, Not Humanity” to benefit the Keep A Child Alive Organization. Can you tell me a little about the event, how you came up with the name, and what it means?
Well, this season I am collaborating with Keep A Child Alive in order help support humanity’s natural inclination to help others. I believe it is within good faith to donate yourself to something other than yourself…I have a tattoo on my left side which reads” il faut se preter aux autres et se donner a soi-meme”…Fashion is really not that important! It is the choices we make which are! I chose “Flip Fashion” bc I wanted to encourage a look to the other side of fashion and not the obvious surface imagery affiliated with the industry…
2. How important is your image to the promotion of your jewelry?
Very. I am the face of my brand. i have branded my jewelry based on my life and its style. It is important that my clients see this because they all live similarly- fast, researched, collected, strategic, smart, and driven.
3. Do you see any perils, in terms of long-term sustainability, in having your image so closely associated with your brands?
Yeah, if I get fat, I’m fucked. Haha, well- in all reality I am presently enlisting more people to work with me in order to take some pressure off…it is a daunting task to know that I am responsible for not only myself, but my brands as well…I also am the creative director for a new NY aspirational swimwear brand, a jewelry/accessories consulting firm, special events/collabs, and other appearances…the more work I expand into which does not pertain to my actual image the better- I am a creative brain for hire. Concepts are difficult to understand if there is not a storyteller behind them to explain or enlighten.
4. If you could design jewelry for anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Grace Jones. I already designed- I just need budget to make it- it’ll be smoking! wink wink…
5. How did growing up in Virginia affect your sense of aesthetics?
I like black and white shit…hehe. Kidding. Virginia is beautiful. I love colors and change. That was everywhere…also my childhood was very free spirited, maybe to my disadvantge bc now I believe I am entitled to anything I want bc I work for it!
6. While I didn’t choose if for this purpose (more because it’s just so darn cute), I once got in a fight at a bar whilst wearing your bar ring and it was quite helpful. Was this one of your intended uses of the ring?
Shit yeah, any use was intended. My work has many intentional, pun–inspired uses…drugs, fighting, fashion, letter opening, lock cracking, makeup applying…
7. What is your favorite material to work with?
Silver. Gold if I’m lucky.
8. Put me on to a great book, a delicious restaurant, and a new artist worth checking out:
I’m embarrassed at my reading roster right now because it is not extracurricular or fun…all business- simple strategic planning but if you want something interesting, Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich…Barbara dives into the trenches of the minimum wage workclass to document the impossiblities of survival on the lowest of low hourly pay…our economic system is baaaaaaad. A delicious restaurant is Bacaro on Division and Orchard…yummy Italian food and amazing wine selection. An artist to check out is my homie, Francois Dischinger.
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9. What is your present state of mind?
Hurried, rushed, trop caffeinated, multi-tasked out, yet calm and diligent. It is naturally the state of mind I am perpetually in these days…
10. How would you like to die?
Peacefully.
