About Us
Kimberly Hartman is the Designer and CEO of JADEtribe. A Texas girl at heart, she grew up in Houston and graduated with a degree in Fashion Marketing from the University of North Texas. Kimberly worked in Dallas, Los Angeles and Paris before moving to New York to manage some of the top contemporary fashion brands throughout her career.
Deciding it was time for a break, Kimberly indulged her love of travel and set off on an extended solo trip to India and South East Asia in the Fall of 2008. It was in Laos where Kimberly discovered a weaving village that she experienced her “Aha” moment. Captivated by the colors of the natural organic dyes coupled with their incredible weaving skills and the remarkable textiles these women were creating, Kimberly employed this village to create exclusive colors and patterns that became the foundation of the JADEtribe handbag collection.
A little bit beach-y, a little bit bohemian jet set, and 100 percent natural and ethical, JADEtribe is the true embodiment of fashion with a conscience. Whether it’s the handbag repurposed from hand embroidered baby carrier cloths, or the hand braided jewelry that jingles, or the organically dyed and hand loomed traditional textiles, each element of JADEtribe carries in it a piece of Kimberly’s heart and a piece of the hearts of the women in South East Asia whose lives have been improved by making it.
Launched in Spring 2009 with handbags and jewelry, JADEtribe is sold to top fashion retailers and resort boutiques worldwide as well as online at www.jadetribe.com.
From Houston to Harajuku, Los Angeles to London, Paris to Perth, Manhattan to Madrid … JADEtribe’s got a layover at a store near you.
Photo by: Marius Bugge