We had the good fortune of connecting with Barbie Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Barbie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Chototsu’s inception is a story of love and artistry, originating from a pair of earrings meticulously handcrafted by a friend for someone special. This creation, born from the talents of the two founders, symbolizes the intimate connections we aim to forge through our jewelry. Their collaboration marked the start of a collective journey in independent jewelry design, with a focus on earrings and other bespoke pieces.

The founders of Chototsu bring together a harmonious blend of architectural precision and literary flair. The one who crafted the initial pair of earrings infuses our designs with structural sophistication and a rich narrative, creating pieces that don’t just adorn but also tell compelling stories. The other founder complements this with a keen commercial sense and an eye for fashion, ensuring our creations are aesthetically appealing and market-relevant.
A year into their journey, I joined this talented pair as a partner, bringing my passion for visual content creation. My role is to expand upon the main product design, translating the essence of our jewelry into zines, posters, and other visual content. As a graphic designer and illustrator, I create illustrations for postcards, calendars, and more, giving a visual voice to our brand’s ethos.
At Chototsu, we have a dedicated department for illustration and visual arts, which is a testament to our commitment to the artistic side of our business. Looking forward, we are excited about collaborating with various artists, blending their unique styles with our jewelry designs to create something truly unique.
Together, our goal is to ensure that every piece of Chototsu jewelry, especially our earrings, embodies the original spirit of those first earrings — a personal symbol of love and creativity. We strive to keep extending the literary and artistic possibilities of our creations, resonating with those who appreciate the beauty and story behind each piece.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What truly distinguishes my art is its genesis from a background that is anything but traditional for an artist—I started as an electronic engineering major. This unconventional beginning has shaped my approach to art in an unexpected way, providing me with a technical perspective that intertwines with creative expression.

My transition into art wasn’t guided by formal academic training, but rather by an innate sense of aesthetics, honed through curiosity and a journey of personal interests. The founders of Chototsu and I share this intuitive approach, allowing our collective sensibilities to influence our creations. The feedback loop we have is not bound by conventional art school paradigms but is driven by our spontaneous will and the accumulation of diverse influences. This gives my artwork a unique character that stands apart.

Embarking on this path was far from easy. The world of art often speaks a language rooted in years of academic dialogue and practice, a language I had to learn from scratch while also trying to contribute to it in my own voice. I’ve had to equip myself with the tools and knowledge necessary for free expression, which has been both a challenging and enriching process.

One of my proudest moments has been the inclusion of my art book in the publication plan of Printed Matters. It stands as a testament to the progress I’ve made and the voice I’ve developed in my work. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the new projects on the horizon. I’m committed to spending more time creating and refining my unique voice.

What I want the world to know about me and Chototsu is that our brand is a reflection of a non-linear journey into art—a fusion of engineering precision with the boundless realm of creativity. It’s a story of overcoming the constraints of traditional pathways and celebrating the raw, self-taught passion for art that drives us.

Our story is for anyone who sees beauty in the unconventional and who believes that the richest narratives often come from the most unexpected sources.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
East Village & Williamsburg: Explore these neighborhoods for their unique subcultures, fashion, and local art scenes. Broadway Show: Catch a world-renowned performance for an unforgettable night out.
High Line & Chelsea Galleries: Take a leisurely walk on the High Line and pop into the nearby galleries to witness contemporary art.
Jazz Bars: Spend an evening at Tomi Jazz or Blue Note for some live music.
Parks: Relax in Central Park or Bryant Park, where you can also enjoy life drawing or a picnic.
Museums: Don’t miss out on visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art and other renowned museums for art and history.

Dining: Try a variety of foods from different neighborhoods – from street eats to rooftop bars with views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to Chototsu’s two founders, who have been the bedrock of not just our business, Chototsu, but also my personal development. Our friendship has deepened immeasurably as we’ve collaborated, fed by mutual respect and shared aspirations. This journey isn’t solely about the growth of our brand; it’s a testament to our individual and collective evolution.

Our creative process is intense and rigorous, marked by daily brainstorming sessions and weekly bursts of creative production. With every new series we launch, we immerse ourselves in finding the perfect expression for our products — from the nuances of design and illustration to the subtleties of wordplay and the strategies of promotion. This meticulous approach ensures excellence at every touchpoint of our creation.

The workload is substantial, indeed, but it’s the time we spend in discussion, offering critique, and learning from our setbacks that truly forges our bond. We navigate everything from the intricacies of art style alignment and graphic layout to the more profound aspects of work ethic, such as honesty about our shortcomings and the resilience to overcome them.

This process is a profound journey of learning and growth. We’ve all traversed great distances in our capabilities, becoming more assertive, more adept, and more attuned to our respective roles. It’s a rare blessing to find individuals who not only care deeply but also drive you to excel, accept your guidance, and return it in kind — all with unwavering dedication and a tenacious work ethic.

So, this shoutout is for the two founders, who deserve as much credit for where I am today as any. Their companionship on this path has been one of the greatest highlights of my career.

Website: barbiekim.net

Instagram: @chototsu2021 @barbiekimmm @nyviews_illus @barbiekim_illustration

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yifei-jin/

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