When jewelry designer Kim Khan takes on a project, her first priority is to instill joy. It should therefore come as no surprise that she’d embrace the softer side of the jewelry business. Deeply fond of the emotions and enduring ties that jewelry sets in stone, Kim uses her talents to nurture connections. Her brand BIBI & KIM, named in honour of her mother Bibiana, is a story of eternal family love.

When Bibiana died suddenly in 2019, Kim’s life fell apart. “For three years, I was living in a terrible dream I couldn’t wake up from,” shares Kim. “At the end of that third year, I knew I needed to pour all the love I had for my mother into a creative outlet.”

After a timid first try, she regrouped, then dove heartfirst into launching her brand, spending two years reading, researching and studying the market. “I knew the market was saturated with jewelry designers, but I didn’t care!” says Kim with contagious laughter. “I had this excitement inside of me that was propelling me forward — it felt like my mother was encouraging me the whole way through.” With her mother in her heart and a supportive husband by her side, Kim officially launched BIBI & KIM in July 2023, after finding the right manufacturers who understood her style and viewpoint.

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Eager to connect with the local community, Kim decided to feature her creations at select pop-ups across South Florida, diving into the vibrant in-person market. While her website allows for countrywide sales, Kim treasures human interaction. With jewelry telling so many sentimental stories, the pleasure garnered from connecting with customers in person is beyond compare. “It moves me immensely to meet customers from all over the United States, who, even while travelling to Florida, make it a point to visit one of my pop-ups to meet me and purchase in person,” shares Kim.

Jewelry design was a natural choice. Bibiana loved jewelry, a fondness she passed down to her daughter along with a jewelry box full of stunning vintage pieces. Kim’s designs are largely inspired by the jewelry her mother favoured. “My mother wore clip-ons because she never had her ears pierced; I designed some earrings that look just like her clip-ons to which I added a back post,” says Kim. “Often, I see young women picking up some of my pieces and with beaming smiles tell me that their mothers or grandmothers wore earrings just like those.”

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The tenderness on these young women’s faces is the driving force behind BIBI & KIM. “I'm often amazed by which pieces resonate with different customers, but knowing a piece brings someone joy always brings me joy too.”

How to combine vintage allure with modernity? That’s the question Kim asks herself every day. “Trends fade away quickly, so I like to create pieces that feel timeless so customers can wear their earrings, necklace, ring or bracelet for years,” she says. Considering it hard to find old-fashioned pieces with intricate designs, Kim replicates some of these classic favourites while lending her own signature modern style to each design, making them more accessible for everyday wear.

Made from quality materials, all of Kim’s pieces, with the exception of the silver collection are 18K gold plated to a base of stainless steel or sterling silver and are tarnish-free, waterproof and hypoallergenic. “Stainless steel holds gold very well, much better than sterling silver,” says Kim. “Moving forward, I’ll be using more stainless steel in my pieces.” The brand currently has four collections. “I adore the black and gold collection, though the luxury, silver and summer collections all do really well too,” she notes. Not feeling the need to mass produce, Kim keeps to 10 or 15 exclusive pieces per collection.

“Jewelry is what you put on when you don’t want your clothes to do the talking,”

— Kim Khan

Devoted to natural beauty and preferring a make-up free face and minimalist clothing to over-stylized outfits, Kim uses jewelry to showcase her character and personality. “Jewelry is what you put on when you don’t want your clothes to do the talking,” says Kim. “A single piece of jewelry can influence your look and the way you feel.” Her favorite piece from her own brand is a black cubic zirconia tennis bracelet. High-quality statement pieces are what Kim has in store for the brand’s future.

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After spending a delightful afternoon in Kim’s company, I’ve come to realize that beautiful packaging means more to her than generating infinite sales. “Aesthetics are very important to me; it’s what makes a brand come alive,” says Kim. From her soothing website and photography to her sublime packaging and ultrasoft jewelry pouches, Kim believes in spoiling her customers with tiny luxuries. “I don’t get the chance to meet the customers who buy from me online, so I like to create a memorable package opening experience for them,” Kim says. “I want them to get goosebumps from all the beauty and care.”

While Bibiana was the catalyst for starting the brand, Kim is the quiet strength behind BIBI & KIM’s success. According to Kim, there is no success without authenticity, slowness and full dedication to one’s brand. “I love digging deeper and figuring things out for myself,” says Kim who loves watching her brand grow and connecting with likeminded small business owners. What’s next for BIBI & KIM? A storefront. “I’m still working on the where, but that’s definitely the plan!”

To view Kim’s full collection or to buy online, visit BIBI & KIM. And be sure to follow on Instagram and Facebook.

TEXT BY FATIMA RIZZO

BIBI & KIM: A Story of Family Love

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