Colorful glassware from Ju now also for sale in a temporary store in Kloosterstraat (Antwerp)

Jules Doyen (27), founder of Ju, will now sell his colorful, mouth-blown glass works in Kloosterstraat. It is a temporary store, until the end of the year. “Normally I sell to companies, but here I hope to come into direct contact with my customers to hear what they think of my designs,” says the young Antwerp resident.

Ju, simply the first two letters of founder Jules Doyen, started as a school project at the Karel de Grote Hogeschool a few years ago. For his ‘international entrepreneurship’ course, Jules wrote a business plan for his own business that revolves around self-designed and mouth-blown glass creations.

In 2019, that school project became its own design brand and the glass works are for sale in about three hundred stores worldwide. “Mainly flower shops, interior design shops and concept stores,” says Jules, who can be found in a temporary store at Kloosterstraat 84 until December 31. “I usually sell to companies and shops who in turn sell it to their customers. But by opening a physical store myself, I hope to come into direct contact with my customers to hear what they think of my designs.”

The period was not chosen by chance. With the holidays approaching, Jules hopes that his vases, lamps and candle holders will end up as gifts under many Christmas trees. “And in January I will be attending trade fairs in France and Germany, among others,” says Jules. “Then I don’t have the time to be in a store myself.

Jules designs everything himself and works with glassblowers in Romania. “That country, and by extension Eastern Europe, is known for its master glassblowers,” says Jules. “That’s why I ended up there. 70% of all my designs are also made from recycled glass.”

Prices vary from 15 euros for candle holders, 40 to 60 euros for vases to truly massive works of art, the most expensive of which costs 750 euros. “There is something for everyone,” concludes Jules.

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Ju, until December 31 at Kloosterstraat 84 (Antwerp), from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.www.ju-jd.com