Where Are They Now? with KK Buteau
Where Are They Now? with KK Buteau
By Elena Ossoski
Jewelry designer and quintessential Mississippi girl KK Buteau has been in touch with her creative and entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Her namesake brand, KK Buteau Designs, offers a variety of enchanting and festive handmade jewelry that reflects Buteau’s own eccentric style.
As a Jackson local with strong familial ties to Oxford, Buteau found that the decision to come to the University of Mississippi was an easy one to make. Buteau dreamt of studying interior design, however Ole Miss does not offer such a program. She felt she tended to shy away from traditional mediums of art, so she took the business route instead. Buteau spent her collegiate summers working on a ranch in California where she was overcome with inspiration.
Whether it was the change of scenery, the West Coast’s practically perfect weather, or something else from within, Buteau realized she needed to materialize her creativity into jewelry. Since she was working a volunteer job, Buteau funded the materials for her first pieces with money gifted to her on a whim. When her time out west came to an end, Buteau continued to pursue her newfound passion. During her senior year, she began to expand her business slowly by making simple pieces in her spare time. Since graduating from the university, Buteau has decided to dedicate her energy to her designs and her daughter.
Buteau’s radical attention to detail is the heart of her designs. She is extremely intentional about what she creates and it is apparent in the materials that she uses. Gold and sterling fixtures are used to bring preserved flowers, butterflies, and glass beads to life.
Buteau believes that inspiration is best found offline. In her time away from social media, Buteau can block out the noise of whatever is considered “trending” at the moment. Moving forward, Buteau plans to release new pieces as inspiration strikes rather than scrambling to pull together pieces to meet a certain quantity for a “drop”. Although releasing drops has proved to be wildly successful for Buteau in the past, the designer’s patient approach to her business is bound to result in higher-quality pieces that reflect her intentional nature and will stand the test of time. The pieces all have an edge, much like Buteau’s personal style. Throughout her life, Buteau has always been, “craving something unique.”
Whether it is a bold pair of leggings or a necklace gifted to her by her best friend’s mom, Buteau’s most cherished pieces in her wardrobe have always been the ones that symbolize her individuality. Buteau is dedicated to embracing her idiosyncrasy rather than trying to hide it through partaking in mass trends as so many seem to do these days.
Recently a vendor at the Double Decker Arts Festival here in Oxford, Buteau frequently partners with individuals and local businesses to sell her pieces at pop-ups. Buteau strives to create experiences for her customers through the pieces that she designs. Her desire to bring joy through what she creates is what makes Buteau an aspirational figure in our beloved Magnolia State.
“I crave creating an experience… more so than jewelry, I love experiences.”
Visit the KK Buteau Designs showroom in Madison, Mississippi, or shop online at kkbuteau.com. For more features on Ole Miss alumni, keep reading Square. Follow us on social media for daily exclusive content.
Photos provided by KK Buteau.