Meet Dorothee Kumpe

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dorothee Kumpe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dorothee below.

Dorothee, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
The journey to finding my purpose has been a rollercoaster ride. As an immigrant, a woman, and an artist, finding my purpose meant pausing my rational business mind and taking a leap of faith into my passion: Art and Creation. It meant trusting myself over the misogynistic comments that make any successful woman feel less than. The little remarks that signal your looks are being seen, but your talent and valuable information in the field, are simply not being taken seriously. The frustration and ultimate burnout led me straight to what I was needing most which was a total purge and restart to how I was living life and how I was working in this world. It was terrifying. I like stability. I like routine. This upended everything and that chaos is where I found myself. Paying it forward or finding ways to incorporate charities and events to benefit underserved communities has become a huge mission and I’m excited for next years revelations. Meeting like-minded collaborators and professionals has forged this path even more. I have over 25 years in retail and operational management and business solutions that now enable me to have a strong business mind for myself and a strong creative output to achieve it, along with some pretty amazing people that have joined along the way.

In retrospect, I realize that all the experiences, positive and negative, all lead me to where I am today: embracing all that I am and all that I can do and how that can be integrated into helping others. Fostering a sense of local community and uplifting others is a strong part of that purpose. I work to ethically source all my jewelry components that I work with and I will continue to donate my time and my talents to those in need.

In the end, the journey continues, as my purpose, and Deep Purpose, will continue to evolve.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I work with copper in several ways to create wearable art. Melting stripped copper wire with zinc and creating jewelry molds, then plating with silver or gold; copper-plating existing metal pieces into new creations; or copper-forming which is my favorite and by far the most tedious process. I take real organic materials, such as shells, orchids, leaves, even insects, and seal them into real copper to preserve them item inside. This final process takes 20-120 hours. I showcase these more extravagant pieces at art exhibitions around South Florida. My more ready-to-wear collections include plated and adjustable rings featuring crystals, shells, and of course: resin set bugs and insects. All ethically sourced (most I found drowned in the pool) and shoppable at my booth at any of the events I take part in. You can also see my collections and creations on my website www.DeepPurposeJewelry.com or find me on Instagram.com/deep purpose for all the up-to-date information on events, charities, new jewelry drops, collaborations and so much more.

The last 2 years I made custom jewelry featuring Pride flags and Fetish flags for our LGBTQIA+ community and portion of the proceeds go to TranspireHelp.org all year round (https://deeppurposejewelry.com/shop/ols/categories/pride-collection).

I’m excited about several upcoming collaborations. I am creating and making a special collection called “Hart’s Purpose” in collaboration with Emily Hartstone (Gifts From the Hart and From the Hart Management) that will be available on my site and on theirs at www.GiftsFromTheHart.com and a portion of the proceeds will go to help cancer patients with costs; Emily and I are also working on creating, hosting, and collaborating with events and charities to bring more purpose to community events.

This summer, we are also working with Corey Heyman of the amazing CocoMarket, a wellness event series that highlights local healers, artists, and small businesses in the holistic space. She is bringing this epic event to West Palm Beach for a summer series at Meyer Amphitheater the third Saturday of the month; and continuing in her backyard of Delray Beach, Florida the first Sunday of each month.

In 2024 I will also be launching Akrotira brand in collaboration with my two partners Colin Ditty and David Meade. This is a departure for me from my jewelry creation and boasts a luxurious, made in the USA, designed by Colin Ditty, mens board short that brings elegant European classic sensibility to resort-wear. I can’t wait to launch this amazing brand and will definitely continue our mission to pay it forward in this venture as well.
Stay tuned as there are fabulous things on the horizon!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
As a German Scorpio, I could lecture on the vital importance of being reliable, punctual, to have a sense or urgency, follow through, and excellent customer service skills. All of these traits are important and valued assets to have in your artillery. At your core, however, you must be ready to be flexible in the event of changes, a willingness to learn and have accountability, and respect. Respect yourself, the time, the work and the ones around you. I feel that anyone on their journey that shows up and has the above, has every opportunity to succeed. Develop your path by really visualizing what it is you want to accomplish and then do the tasks to get there. You got this.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My mother and brother are always super supportive in all I do, I am so grateful for their love. My better half, my anchor, and my best friend, Michal, I could not do any of this without his unwavering uplifting support. The men and women that I collaborate with: amazing humans who elevate and teach me to be better, always, I’m eternally thankful. The most helpful thing that any and all of these people have done for me is simple: they trusted and respected my knowledge, artistic vision/ creativity, and allowed me the space to thrive without fear. Endlessly appreciative to all on my path.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Devyn of Simply Great Productions Wild Orchid Media

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