Meet Dorothee Kumpe | Jewelry Creator

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

Hi Dorothee, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I pride myself on ethically sourced components for my work as well as finding other creatives to collaborate with. Most of the copper I use in electro-forming and plating is reclaimed copper from electrical wires and mechanical components that have been previously discarded. The leaves, scorpions, and orchids you see encased in copper have the real organic pieces inside: giving it a deeper purpose and also a second life as something beautiful. In resin, I capture the beauty of the ancient scorpions, beetles, and spiders that may have been feared in life, are now upcycled and recycled to adorn someone with their evolutionary wonder and unique one of a kind look as each was once a living individual. In these images you see a great collaboration between South Florida women who run their businesses: here I worked with an incredible henna artist Stella of Stellar Body Art Palm Beach, the amazing photographer Devyn of Simply Great Productions, and also the photographer Lindsay Moore of Wild Orchid Boudoir. In recognizing that we all do better by working in sync rather than viewing things as a competition, we grow together. We uplift together. We find a deeper purpose which is ultimately more fulfilling and the best way I know how to bring community and art together. I am proud to be the vendor coordinator for Pride on the Block in West Palm Beach (www.PrideontheBlock.com) that benefits Transpirehelp.org and the LGBTQ+ community, and I absolutely LOVE vending at charity events. This past season a few highlights were Save the Reef that benefitted Conservation Key and the Bark Back Benefit 7 that benefitted local animal rescues and adoptions. We must pay it forward. Success without Stewardship is hollow. Its no coincidence I named my company Deep Purpose. It’s not just about creating, its about respect for this planet and the communities we live in.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Deep Purpose was the product of a lifetime of creativity suppressed by working a daily grind for others. It was not easy, and don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned so much along the way. After a serious burnout, Deep Purpose was the answer to all my woes. I was frustrated and exhausted working for companies that took advantage of my strong work ethic. As the world shifted into a pandemic panic and more social tensions arose, we all watched in horror as unity was destroyed by politics and war. I felt discarded and used by the people I worked for, and lost faith in the leaders and decision-makers, like so many of our communities felt as well. As a woman and an immigrant, my heart shattered to hear that I have less and less rights to my own body. My childhood hobby of creating art and jewelry, which gave me such peace in these times, quickly became the clear answer for my next chapter. I sought to take what is discarded, seek what is neglected, and bring together these elements that not only represent the ethos to unite and support, but also uplift and bring joy: Deep Purpose jewelry does just that. I vend up and down the coast of South Florida from Stuart to Miami, meeting people that exchange stories and laughter with me, that find the perfect piece to bring them joy in these uncertain times. It’s not about fast fashion and competition, it’s about mindfulness and community. It’s about paying your good fortunes forward and empathizing rather than terrorizing. It’s not what sets my brand apart that I’d like to highlight, it’s what brings our brands together that matters.

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.
Downtown West Palm Beach has become such an amazing place to be living in. The local green markets and artist alleys, as well as new restaurants and of course the local art, are all highlights. The 500 block of Clematis is for me the heart of this district. Enjoy a drink at Hullabaloo, listen to some EDM at Respectable Street, or wander down the Artist Alley by Subculture Coffee and discover local artists and creatives (including Deep Purpose) on Thursdays and Fridays. Down by the waterfront, stop at the amphitheater to catch music and locals enjoying a stroll or visit our famed Sunfest in May. Travel farther south to Delray Beach, a mecca of bohemian style and shops lining Atlantic Ave. The Coco Market on the first Sunday of the month is not to be missed. Do yoga in the morning sun and discover all kinds of vendors and niche creators. Stop for some wine at the delicious French restaurant Brulé and wander the Pineapple Grove Arts District galleries.
Even farther south, Fort Lauderdale is home to great venues like Revolution Live. Find indoor art markets such as the Indie Craft Bazaar, and great music events every week here.
Take the Brightline down to Wynwood and wander the street appreciating all the colorful walls made by local artists. Come visit South Florida and come see all the art and life we have to offer!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, my partner, my friends, and my community. I could not have become self employed and continued to create without the love and support of all of these people. Deep Purpose is not just a brand, it’s a mantra, a journey, and a constant intention to evolve and grow. To see what my mind birthed and my hands created, giving someone joy when they wear it, empowering them, and being sustainable and ethical in the process. This is Deep Purpose.

Website: https://www.DeepPurposeJewelry.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_purpose

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothee-kumpe-55761287

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeepPurposeJewelry

Other: https://www.jewelstreet.com/collections/deep-purpose

Image Credits
Photography:Devyn of Simply Great Productions and Lindsay Moore of Wild Orchid Boudoir Styling, Jewelry, Model: Dorothee of Deep Purpose Henna Artist: Stellar Body Art Palm Beach