Born to a Mother who already ran her own jewellery-shop, Kim, who has her own background in interior design, started to design jewellery, too!
Due to her love of style, craftsmanship and her curiosity for details and the smaller but beautiful things in life, she created her own range of delicate jewellery, that are exquisite, individual and unique pieces of art.
Located in the heart of the eternal city, Rome, Kim creates those amazing pieces and loves to combine various materials, design influences of her customers and anything creative that comes to her mind. If you happen to be in Rome – stop by, Kim would love to show you around her store, present the workplace and describe everything you need to know about the materials to you!
Find out more about Kim and her store in our latest store-of-the-week-interview:
1.What is the concept behind Kimi Te Jewels?
It started with my love of small flowers called Santan or Jungle Flame. When I was little, curious of its shape and bold color, I remember making these flowers into tiaras or necklaces or rings, interconnecting each stem to another. I even tried eating the nectar extract from the flower’s middle, which my grandparents always warned me about. This curiosity and the childhood memories of playing were the inspiration for my first collection and from there on, the story of Kimi Te Jewels.
My background is in Interior Design and growing up being exposed to such beauty around me, Jewelry design has proven to be closer to my heart. Knowing that I can create something precious from a memory or from an experience or an inspiration that can last forever – as wearable pieces of exclusive art – is fulfilling. It is a labour of love from my hands that I spend hours or days making. I love what I do and I want to share it.
2.Where did the idea of creating a jewelry store came from? And what did you do before?
Helping out in my mother’s jewelry shop gave me more focus and confidence to do the business side of it. I love designing and I was very fortunate to have the best of both worlds. It was the best decision I made.
3.Do you have exclusive products in the store?
Yes, I make exclusive designs and collections for other small shops. The majority of my collection varies on my mood and seasons as you can see in the Kimi Te Jewels shop.
4.Which is your and your customer’s favorite product from the store?
I have a variety of clients that have different tastes but in general I would say the flower rings, specifically the Prima Fiore Ring. This one is inspired by Santan Flowers and I combined a feminine yet modern twist within it, comparable to a nest of eternity. It is a bold statement piece for a woman who has a strong sense of style and is unafraid to stand out from the crowd.
Another spectacular piece is the Nodo Infinito, which comes in bracelets and necklaces. This one is also my favorite, as it is able to portray the infinite chains of love. I also love my abstract small rings in bronze.
5.Why should everybody visit your store in Via dei Banchi Nuovi 58 in Rome?
Rome is a beautiful, magical place that fuels my creations. My shop is in the heart of the city and there is a great spirit! People would have the chance to discover, try out and learn the stories for each piece straight from the artisan. They can see my workplace, what materials I used and how I made these. The authenticity of my stories, my passion of creating art, high quality and handicraft, these are two-way dialogues that blend in my brand.
