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A black and white portrait photo of Japanese homeware retailer NiMi Projects and distributor NiMi NiMi Objects founders Mio Yamada (on the left) and Nicole Bargwanna (on the right).

OUR STORY

NiMi Objects is best described as our simple desire to help introduce Japanese design and artisanship to a wider audience. From our years of working within creative industries in Japan, we’ve come to love the uniqueness, playfulness and innovations of Japanese craftsmanship and manufacturing techniques.
Since moving to the UK, we wanted to share that joy.
We began this journey as longtime friends, then residing in Tokyo. What started as a coffee conversation about our love of crafts led to the establishment of NiMi Projects, our design boutique in Sevenoaks, Kent. But, as a style consultant and a design journalist, we always felt we should, and could, do more for the makers we represent. For NiMi Objects, we've brought together industry friends and new contacts, with the aim of sharing their wonderful work.

Nicole Bargwanna & Mio Yamada

OUR MESSAGE

In Japan, the philosophy of “monozukuri” — the art and science of making things — is paramount to good design. It’s about constantly improving and perfecting any item and the way it’s made. We work with artisans and manufacturers, both traditional and innovative, with a deep respect for materials and attention to detail. But they are also creators who focus on harmony between processes, technology and local community.
The products we select reflect monozukuri, and every item has its own story to tell. 

A wooden tabletop displaying tall, wooden house-shaped collapsable trivets. Each trivet is made of four parts that slot together to create the house shape. Three of the trivets on the left are standing like tall buildings, each featuring small burnished squares to look like windows. One is collapsed and laid flat to create a cross-shaped trivet with a white saucepan on top.
A scenic shot of Japanese woodland filled with tall leafy cedar trees.

SUSTAINABILITY

Beautiful homeware should be designed to be used and admired for a lifetime. They shouldn’t be disposable products. Traditional Japanese crafts are renowned for their use of sustainable and renewable materials for items of incredible quality and durability. The natural beauty of wood, paper and cotton only adds to the aesthetics of contemporary homeware. In selecting products, we make an extra effort to source items that support local crafts or industries and are made from natural and renewable materials. Wherever possible, we look for forest-thinning woods and recycled or recyclable materials. We even encourage makers to re-think their packaging into more sustainable options. As a company, we also recycle packaging and use sea-mail whenever possible.

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