Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimothy Hoang.
Jimothy, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Here in San Diego, is where I started creating leather designs. I was creating designs mostly from up-cycled remnants of leather. The first place I ever sold any of my creation was at the Farmer’s Market in Ocean Beach. There I continued teaching my self my own style of leather designs, and I created Chi Stylezs. The logo is the infinity symbol over the Chinese character for Chi, which means “Infinite Energy.” Chi Stylezs was at the OB farmers market almost every Wednesday for over 15 years. During that time Chi Stylezs expanded to other markets, street fairs, and many other local pop up fashion events. From there we expanded into sharing our designs at music festivals since 2008, Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, OutsideLands, Sasquatch, Symbiosis and many more for over ten years now.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I design and personally handcraft leather accessories mostly from up-cycled and smaller remnants of leather. I make leather fringe ponchos, metal fringe chokers, cuffs, suspenders, harnesses, holsters, belts, earrings, guitar straps, wallets, bags and purses, and some clothing and hats, as well as other designs.
I feel that there’s enough resources available to everyone out there, if you look at things from a different perspective, and utilize the resources you have available, you can create something that is new and fresh. Something that inspires and motivates others to also create and also hopefully create a positive impact of inspiration.
The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
Always be creating! Create your Art! Hone your craft. Find time to live your passion, on the side, around your current job or current responsibilities. Whatever it is that you love to do, that inspires you, motivates you, that gives you passion. Create time to do it, create your own reality. Take the power back, relive the passion each day. No matter what your financial concerns you may be struggling about. You’ll feel richer than any monetary value that’ you ever had when you’re living your passion.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently, people can see a small sample of our work online on Instagram @chistylezs, or on our website www.chistylezs.com
We will also be at a few music festivals this year, as well as pop up shops in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco this year.
People can support our work by wearing our designs daily with them everywhere they go or Contact us directly through our website or Instagram. Also, come see us at our events and share our designs with your friends online and in your local city.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chistylezs.com
- Email: jimothy@chistylezs.com
- Instagram: @chistylezs
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/chistylezslifestylezs
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/chistylezs
Image Credit:
Portrait : Ken Kondo Photography // Chi Stylezs Photos ; Danny Dilworth Photography // Alyssa Lavine Photograpahy // JimoSee Photos
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