This is the story of how Mont Kiji founder Junhee Kim turned silk, and a Made-in-France promise into a beloved brand — told in her own words.

The Friend Who Said No One Wears Scarves

When I launched Mont Kiji’s first limited edition, my friend in San Francisco who runs a photo studio offered to shoot the collection. She asked a lot of questions, and at the end she said, You’ll never sell anything in America. People are practical. Nobody wears silk scarves here.

They Just Needed to See It

What I’ve realized is that Americans aren’t against scarves. It’s just not something they see often. But once they touch it, once they try it on, and someone explains how to wear it — they want it. There was a potential nobody knew was there.

100% Made in France—Even If It Hurts

A lot of people, including my own mill, told me not to insist on 100% Made in France. It doesn’t make business sense. It’s painful. The margins are small. I looked into other options and I still insisted.

In the end, I realized it’s my biggest asset. Especially with my international clientele. They’re used to seeing Made in France on a label, but the silk isn’t actually from France. It means something when it really is.

Inside Tip 🪄

A mother and daughter from Connecticut came into my shop. They loved Mont Kiji. She invited me to her home for a pop-up in October.

My American fans, I feel like they’re an extension of my family. They write to tell me they’re coming back to Paris. They bring friends. They make me feel like what I’m doing matters.

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.

Images

Lead-in Image - Mont Kiji / Official Site; Back of Card Image - @montkiji / Instagram