Welcome to our Designer Profile, where we celebrate the brilliance of Canadian designers shaping the fashion landscape. From coast to coast, we’re spotlighting the creative minds redefining style with innovation, craftsmanship, and a distinctly Canadian touch. Join us as we explore their inspirations, journeys, and the impact they’re making on the world of fashion. Meet Julie, the mind behind hijulez!
Meet Julie Roussy Newton, the Founder and Creative Director of hijulez
Website: https://hijulez.com/
Instagram: @hijulez
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Julie, though my friends call me Julez. I’m an artist and clothing designer born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. My personal style is a blend of influences: my mom, who loved fashion and dressed me in the cutest, girliest outfits, and my two older brothers, who were all about skateboarding and ’90s streetwear. You can see those worlds collide in the way I dress and design for hijulez today.
I’ve always loved getting my hands messy, whether it’s paper mache, ceramics, or natural dyeing, I’m drawn to art forms that make me feel like a kid again. I value the freedom of creative play just as much as the precision and thoughtfulness that more structured art requires. hijulez is where these two sides of me meet: creativity balanced with careful craftsmanship.
What inspires you?
I’m obsessed with textures. I often find myself stopping mid-walk (with my angel dog: Fig) to snap photos of telephone poles, cracked sidewalks, or the patterns on leaves. The lines, patterns, and shapes I notice in my day-to-day life often are a starting point for my design work.
Beyond that, my friends and family are constant sources of inspiration. The joy my friends bring me, the warmth of my family, and the adventurous spirit of my boyfriend all influence what I create. I love designing with the people in my life in mind, thinking about what pieces would elevate the moments we share together.
Tell us the story behind your brand/ art
hijulez started in 2016 when I was 18. I fell in love with historical embroidery in high school, it felt like the first art form that came naturally to me, and I ran with it. I started embroidering gifts for friends and eventually moved on to designing my own motifs on clothing. I shared a few of my pieces on Instagram (to my small following of about 50 people), and to my surprise, a boutique in Gastown, One of a Few, reached out asking to carry my work.
When I first brought my pieces to the store, I didn’t even have hang tags or neck labels yet. My Instagram handle was ‘hijulez,’ so I decided to get tags printed with the same name without overthinking it, and here we are 8 years later.
I started by embroidering on blank and vintage garments but quickly felt inspired to learn more about constructing clothing from scratch that would better showcase my embroidery. That journey took me to fashion school at Polimoda in Italy, and it’s been an evolving process ever since. One of my favourite parts of running hijulez has been giving myself the freedom to explore whatever art form captures my curiosity. Over the years, I’ve gone through many different creative chapters from natural dyeing and batik to experimenting with unique cutting lines, embroidery, and screen printing. I can’t wait to see what the future brings and what aspect of clothing creation I’ll fall in love with next!
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone starting out in your field?
Take control of your finances from day one. The more you understand your income and expenses, the more freedom you’ll have to focus on creating those exciting, soul-sparking pieces.
I also can’t stress enough the importance of asking for help. People are often more willing to share their knowledge and experience than you’d think, but when you ask, make sure you come prepared and always express your gratitude.
Finally, embrace the non-linear path. My journey has been anything but straightforward, and learning to accept steps backward as part of moving forward has given me so much peace. Growth isn’t always a straight line and that’s okay.
What does 2025 hold for you?
I’m so excited for this to be our strongest, most organized year yet. Our small team has grown to four amazing women, and I’m endlessly grateful to work alongside them. I’m hoping to host our first collection show at the end of the summer, which feels like such a huge milestone. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow, reaching new customers, and connecting with people who resonate with our pieces and mission.
