Karen Kim of Binu Binu
Sculptural and sudsy — who knew soap could double as art? Inspired by the Korean tradition of public baths as a space for cleansing as well as community connection, Karen Kim founded Binu Binu to bring beauty to the bath.
Toronto-based Binu Binu’s bars are all natural and fragrance-free. The brand uses the traditional cold-press method of soap-making, each piece developed with a special blend of oils, lye, and other cleansing additions. Karen creates each individual blend by drawing inspiration from different aspects of Korean culture, like the ever-present boricha tea and the Jeju Island haenyeo “sea women” divers. And over the past few years, Binu Binu has introduced adjacent products, like their soothing marble soap dishes, biodegradable travel soap cases, and natural scrub mitts. Each product elevates daily cleansing, making the ritual one to look forward to.
SO FRESH, SO CLEAN: Pass the soap.
FULL NAME: Karen Kim
CITY: Toronto, Ontario
HARDEST THING OF STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS: Starting your own business is not as hard as running it!
BATH OR SHOWER? Showers for everyday, baths for relaxing.
FRUIT OF CHOICE: Lemons
