Brianna Sheehan
St. Sabrina’s

 

Brianna Sheehan: Congratulations on winning the Creative Innovator award. How many times have you won the innovators award?

Jimmy Buddha: Thank you. I believe this will be the sixth one. I like the challenge it presents and the fact that it encourages innovation in our industry.

Brianna: To start, can you tell us about these labradorite saucers in detail? What went into designing them and making them a reality? What do you think makes these innovative?

Jimmy: My saddle spreader allows me to get more creative with material selection. Without the spreader, the flying saucers would be too heavy and impractical. Design wise, I have been playing around with different techniques to achieve unique textures in the body jewelry world. I feel the distressed metal juxtaposed with the clean lines of the highly polished labradorite give the piece a modern and rustic feel. It’s a fresh take on what we are used to in the body jewelry scene.

Brianna: One thing that I personally love about your work is that you have found a way to really showcase the stones you choose. It has definitely created a greater appreciation for natural stone among industry folk and clients alike. Which stones or materials are some of your favorites to work with?

Jimmy: I can appreciate all types of stones really; it’s part of why Diablo Organics has such a broad range of jewelry. Picking a favorite limits what I can do with design. If I had to pick some favorites, they would be amber, jade, and rutile materials. Keep your eyes open for more crazy stones!

Brianna: What are some characteristics you look for in the stones you choose?

Jimmy: I look for that small percentage of material that pops! Not all stones are created equal. For example, when I use labradorite, I’m not picking the cheap material that just has a tiny hint of flash, letting the name “labradorite” sell the jewelry. I want it to grab the customer with its super flash, which is what that material is all about.

Brianna: Anyone that follows your social media can see that you’re always on the hunt for material. How much of the raw material are you personally responsible for?

Jimmy: I personally select all of our material. But there are different degrees of discovery. My goal is to get as close as possible to the source. Sometimes this means I’m in the dirt. It gives me first crack at quality pieces, and the ability to cut out the middle man. This keeps things affordable and I learn tons about the material, how it is sourced, processed, etc. At the moment I am in Alaska on the hunt for fossil ivories and jade. Mixing travel, adventure, hard work and jewelry is what it is all about for me.

Brianna: You have a lot of people going crazy about the re-release of some Zoomorphic nephrite jade designs. Can you give us a brief history on Zoomorphic and what has made it so special?

Jimmy: Zoomorphic is the brain child of Cheyenne Sunhill, a close friend of mine, and one of the first modern day body jewelry designers to really push the limits. He is ahead of his time, and is always coming up with some far out concept. Jade is not just a pretty green stone. It’s intertwined with human history, our cultural and technological evolution as a species. The cultural impact of what this “tool stone” did still has influence today, even over ten thousand years later! Cheyenne understands this and brings it to his designs using jade as the medium.

Brianna: What made you decide to re-release these designs?

Jimmy: Cheyenne and I are on the same page when it comes to jade, so it just made sense that I do a little project with him in conjunction with launching Diablo Organics’ new jade line. I wanted to pay homage to his pieces, using Zoomorphic and the historical context of jade as my inspiration.

Brianna: Was this a one-time thing or can we expect to see more of it?

Jimmy: Haha! Yes, there will be more. I already have my calendar full with trips to source more jade!

Brianna: I really want to bring attention to the antique silver collection as well. To some, Diablo Organics is categorized as an organic jewelry company. Items like this, and others you’ve released, have completely stepped up the jewelry game.

Jimmy: Thank you. I started this jewelry “nonsense” out of curiosity and respect for modern and ancient body modification and the innate need to decorate our bodies. Over the years—coming up on 20 of them now—I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world and experience first-hand these practices in present day cultures, and study ancient cultures through artifacts and history.

Brianna: Can you tell us what lead to the production of it? What was your goal with this line?

Jimmy: I figured it was time. We are maturing as an industry and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be rocking real jewelry!

Brianna: Do you plan on releasing more “high end” items like these?

Jimmy: If we can sell it… You betcha!

Brianna: A lot of your jewelry is limited or “one off”. Can you explain the reasoning behind this?

Jimmy: Diablo Organics definitely has its catalog essentials lines, but I source crazy materials that need special attention sometimes. It keeps me on the hunt for new ideas, and challenges my creative abilities as well as my craftsmanship. Many times these ideas then trickle down into the catalog essentials.

Brianna: For those who are unfamiliar, what are some other things Diablo Organics offer aside from bad ass, rare, limited, fancy hanging designs?

Jimmy: You know that’s a good question, because so much attention is given to all of our crazy limited and fancy collections. Many times, the essentials are overlooked. We always have readily available, quality, economical lines in brass, both yellow and white, stone, wood, and other organics. Austin HQ is open 10-6, Texas time, 5 days a week and the ladies are there to sort everything out. From the get go, as a piercer and shop owner myself, I wanted to give the industry the bread and butter jewelry at affordable prices. We have stuck to that, staying wholesale only, with unbeatable prices and quality.

Brianna: What separates Diablo Organics from competitors offering some similar designs?

Jimmy: What competition? Haha, just kidding. Seriously though, we are doing our own thing. There is crossover here and there, because our lines encompass a lot, but we stick to customer service and functional, well-designed, quality jewelry for the budget beginner all the way up to the high end collector.

Brianna: What are your plans for Diablo Organics in the future?

Jimmy: We are always evolving so it’s hard to say, but we are moving in many different directions simultaneously. My crew makes this possible. If it wasn’t for Shanna and Kayleigh in the office, and Lauren on the road, we wouldn’t be able to make this happen. All I can say right now is we are just starting to pick up momentum!