Bijules

NYC-based jeweler Jules Kim has been an independent thinker from day one. She and her twin sister were raised by a single mother and learned to follow their passions and always think for themselves. She says, My inspiration is completely [derived from] my own life experience andfollowing my own whims. I think that, in life, if we dont pursue those... things that make us happy, then for sure we will never find that happiness. For Jules, seeking happiness has always been paramount. Her spirited upbringing led Jules to rebelliously define her own creative process when she entered the world of jewelry as an adult. Even her formal training was self-designed. Jules earned her bachelors degree through an independent studies program, dealing with international arts, that allowed her to customize her curriculum and study in France, where she learned about taking risks and anticipating their pay off. Inspired by both her materials and her travels, Jules design process changes with each piece she makes. I might be literally staring at the top of a lake as I go from Stockholm to Oslo and then there is this titillating light that the sunset reflects on the surface of the lake and it reminds me of pavé diamonds. Jules attempts to capture the essence of these moments of inspiration have manifested into some of her most popular designs, such as the Nail Ring and the Handlet, with each piece telling its own unique story. I want to sort of isolate the concept first because Im a storyteller. She says, The objects that I create basically become communication tools for the story that Im telling. As Jules reputation grew, and her pieces fell into the hands of musicians and celebrities like Rihanna and Beyoncé, Jules focused on self-education by studying businessreading books and taking seminars to create a balance that allowed her art and business to function together seamlessly. Jules says, Its super important that artists address managing their own business. Once you understand your level of capability as an artist, then you must ...Read More