JESSIE DIB
The
Dib
Studio
Wearable art, handmade by a family across three continents. No molds. No two pieces alike. Everyone can be a Dibster.
"When you buy a DIB, you buy a cutting-edge design that looks bold and feels right: a day-to-day statement, and a unique and fresh way to do fashion, art, and interior design from the same starting point."
Jessie Dib was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She started designing for herself and her dolls at age eleven and has not stopped since. Her father is a full-time dentist and part-time jeweller, and she spent her teenage years working alongside him making jewellery and objects. By high school she was designing and creating garments and jewellery and selling them to friends and family, the seed of an entrepreneurial spirit that has never stopped growing.
She studied fashion design at SCAD, interned for Vera Wang producing most of the jewellery for the Spring 2010 show, and was mentored by Zac Posen during her senior year, who found her idea of incorporating jewellery within garment design unique and modern. After graduating she moved to New York and worked with Elie Tahari, Alejandro Ingelmo, Frank Tell and Angel Sanchez. After designing a jewellery collection for Angel Sanchez's Spring/Summer 2013 show, she began The Dib Studio. Her father's tools came with her, across continents.
Angles, geometry, textures, architecture and conscious messages.
Our design concept is a team effort where we all put a bit of our creativity into each piece. It usually starts with a mood, colour story and material combination that I choose and send to my family. From there my dad will produce the metal pieces in Venezuela: each one is different and 100% handmade. We do not use molds, so even if we cut a similar shape you never get the same piece. As he produces them he adds unique textures: what I like to call drawing on metals.
My dad then sends me a group of metal pieces that I assemble and mount in different ways with different acrylics and precious metals. My brother in California helps with sampling special pieces for fashion shows or photoshoots, and comes up with his own ideas and designs for furniture. And Mom helps with a little bit of everything: marketing, sales, production, getting orders out. It's a true family affair.
"Everyone can be a Dibster at any scale; there is always a DIB for everyone."
Jessie DibI usually design with a theme and audience in mind. For one collection I was inspired by Royal Women of past eras and named each piece after one of these women: we made the pieces exaggerated in size and added stones, something we had never done before but keeping our minimalistic DIB shapes. It was our most feminine collection. For our last collection #yourdib we were inspired by many audiences and made a statement that our pieces are unisex. Our campaign pushed conscious messages forward: LOVE, BE THE CHANGE. Due to the variety and combination of materials this collection is very accessible for any age range.
Never ever give up on your dreams. Even if you feel like throwing the towel in, know that there are always ups and downs in any company. Keeping a positive mindset and seeing things from a different perspective will always help moving forward. It's a tough industry and not everyone has to love what you are doing, but you need to be committed and maintain a positive attitude.
CEO and Head Designer. Mood boards, material combinations, assembly, mounting. The vision and the hands.
Full-time dentist, part-time jewellery master. Produces all metal pieces by hand in Venezuela. Draws on metals. No molds. No two pieces alike.
Special sampling for fashion shows and photoshoots. His own furniture designs. The expansion of DIB into objects and space.
Marketing, sales, production, logistics. Getting orders out. Last but never least.
An all-female vinyl-only record label and clothing line based in Paris. Bridging the gap between sound and apparel. Music you want to listen to, a collection you want to dance in.
ra-re.fr ↗A collaboration with her husband: DIB jewellery meets plastic and visual art. Murals, installations, experiences. Presented at Art Basel Miami, a gallery in Caracas, and Showfields NYC.
@dibkorma ↗VP and Director of Content Publishing Technology at a software engineering company building tools for education and publishing. "Education is key and those who can should always find a way to learn and help others learn."
Her work has been worn by Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Model, Noel Wells on Infinity Baby, and Manu Manzo in her music video. Featured in Elle, Vogue Brazil, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Belle and Cosmopolitan. Mentored by Zac Posen at SCAD. Supported from the beginning by Angel Sanchez. The Dib Studio also supports the Venezuelan foundation @yotengounsueno_ and encourages everyone to do the same.
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✦ Explore all our interviews →"DIB's principle, beyond designing, is connecting people and developing experiences, always presenting itself as a whole and not only as a product."
More design and jewellery from the Antakly Projects archive.
Read on Substack ↗
Foto: @emotionandmotion , @alvarocamachophoto
Foto: @fernandarojas
Foto: @dianamolinasosa Muse: @joahaus Styling: @tiffanyazmouz MU: @takeadao
Foto: @dianamolinasosa Muse: lou.dbaibo , @takeadao ,@alyseeeuh
MU: @hita_makeupart Hair: @thehairroomkenya
Jesse and her father