Junhee Kim, the Paris-based founder of Mont Kiji, shares how a chance move to Paris sparked a beautifully unplanned path — one that led from art school to silk scarves and a brand all her own.

Found in Translation

Fashion just happened by accident, including the start of Mont Kiji. Actually, all my life happened by accident. My dad moved to Paris as an expat, and I took a year off from college in Korea to join him.

After three or four months, I asked myself — what have I always wanted to do? The answer was drawing. Making something with my hands. That’s how I found Parsons in Paris and decided to enroll.

Connecting the Dots to Italy

Every year I wrote down ten things I wanted to do. Maybe they were resolutions. Maybe a to-do list. Looking back, those things ended up shaping Mont Kiji. One of them was learning Italian — something I’d never had the chance to do properly. I wanted to practice it. That’s what led me to Como in Italy.

The Gift That Sparked Mont Kiji

I interned in Como, Italy, at a company called Loraman. It specialized in silk and high-end fabrics, including scarves for name brands. I was grateful to Filippo, the owner. He had everything — so what could I give him?

He loved his only daughter, Bianca. So I made a scarf from a photo I took of her. Not something rushed or photocopied. Something with real quality. That’s how Mont Kiji started.

From Custom to Collection

At first, I focused on offering a service, rather than design, for others. I made custom scarves. But eventually, I tried a small, ready-made limited edition. And to my surprise, people liked it. Over time, that’s what Mont Kiji became.

Inside Tip 🪄

Nothing was planned. Not the school. Not the career. Not the brand. But sometimes you just have to let things go and see what happens. That’s really been my whole life story.

Contact

🌐 Mont Kiji

About

Junhee Kim is the Paris-based founder and designer behind Mont Kiji, a silk scarf brand with a 100% Made-in-France ethos. Before launching her brand, she worked at Balenciaga, Emmanuel Ungaro, Sonia Rykiel, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Mont Kiji scarves are produced with traditional silk artisans in Lyon and small ateliers in Paris, supported by a nonprofit collective Junhee co-founded to uplift independent designers.

Her boutique is in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where she continues to connect with customers through artful objects, expat spirit, and meaningful design.

Lead-in Image

Mont Kiji / Official Site