Jules Peters
Submission from Toronto, Designer & Screen-Printer
Jules Peters is a creative person from Toronto. She focuses on designing, screen-printing and shooting photos for her brand Boy Works. This woman-run brand focuses on producing well-made, hand-printed goods. The name Boy Works is representative of growing up feeling like a “tomboy” and their first collection explores concepts of femininity. When she’s not working you can catch Jules biking through the city, exploring and taking pictures.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Ideally I’d like to be working, healthy and happy. Being able to run projects that are interesting to me and enjoying the important relationships in my life.
What is Boy Works? Why the name?
Boy Works is a woman-run brand based out of Toronto, Canada. Our primary focus is producing well-made, hand printed goods. We’re currently working on our first run of soft goods to be released in early December 2017.
Naming the brand Boy Works was really about striking a balance between masculine and feminine. The name is representative of growing up feeling like a “tomboy” and in our first collection we explore concepts of femininity. My aim with Boy Works is to provide go-to pieces that can be as versatile as they are practical.
Why screen-printing? How did you develop that passion?
In many ways screen-printing felt like a natural next step for me. I grew up drawing, messing around with cameras, taking photos and filming stuff - being interested in these things assisted me in becoming a more independent worker. If I know how to take photos I can figure out how to do video, if I learn how to design I can figure out a better way to package my ideas. They were all hobbies based around perspective, and while I was figuring out all these ways I could showcase people and things, I didn’t necessarily always have a focal point of my own. Which is something I think I’ve always craved - being able to overlook a “whole” project and having a say in each step of the process.
When it comes to screen-printing, it’s detail-oriented, technical work. That’s a huge draw for me because it demands my full attention and in return it allows me to carry out an idea from start to finish. The screen-printing process is one that makes sense to me intuitively as a creative worker. It also gave me the kind of freedom I was looking for with the type of money I was able to spend. I didn’t want to stay stuck daydreaming about the ways I wanted to create, learn and grow - so I researched what my options were. I knew that plenty of other artists were able to start out through this method - and I'm fortunate enough to be surrounded by a strong creative community that I can ask questions and learn from. I’ve been slowly developing my printing technique since.
How did you find out about Disposable?
Through a girl named Kat that I follow on Instagram.
What does your daily routine consist of?
It’s different every day. Often times it’s most helpful for me to write out a list of what needs to be done the night before, this way I can designate a chunk of time each day to try to get a few tasks completed. It becomes more about challenging myself as to how much I can get done in a day vs. being reactionary to my work schedule. I also think it’s important to note that the tasks don’t always have to be entirely work related. It can also be about making sure I have enough alone time to regenerate. Taking it day by day and assessing what tasks need to be done to accomplish long-term goals, but also listening to what I need day-to-day.
Do you have interesting stories from people on your roll?
Most of the photos from the roll are of people I like, doing things around the city in the summertime. Reilly, Grayson, Lauren, Sabastian, Susan and Siobhan.
There's also an interesting shot of Kent Monkman. He’s standing in front of one of his paintings during a studio party he held during Pride earlier this year.
A city?
Toronto.
What are your plans for this weekend?
Working on projects.
A song?
Retrograde by James Blake.
Right or left handed?
Left handed.
What is the best dish you can cook?
Cauliflower mac & cheese. Hands down.
What is your middle name?
R.
What do you do in your free time?
Mostly try to figure shit out. I bike, try to find ways to work with my hands, take pictures.
What inspires you?
Knowing there’s always room to do better.
What do you do for money?
Sales Associate by day. Running Boy Works by night.
What do you do for pleasure?
Laugh.
Your idea of happiness?
Feeling healthy, mentally and physically. Eating well and working hard. Actively learning and adventuring.
Your idea of misery?
Being stagnant.
If not yourself, who would you be?
It’s hard to say. I think maybe someone a little bit more relaxed than I have been this last year, more organized, better equipped. I guess future me.
Your heroes?
My little brother.
What is your present state of mind?
In love.
Bedside table books?
Adultery by Paulo Coelho.
What do you do if you can’t sleep at night?
I watch the Office.
Do you collect?
In practice I try not to hold onto anything I don’t need for too long - but I guess I have a small collection of shoes, funny screenshots and silk screens.
Tea or coffee?
50/50, but I always end up drinking my coffee and letting my tea sit.
What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?
I spent far too many of my childhood years believing humans lived forever. It wasn’t until one summer day when my dad was outside gardening I asked, “isn’t it cool we just live forever?” He gently explained to me that all humans die. I think I was 6.
A color?
Pale Peach.
