Born out of a strong friendship and shared love of good design, NiMi Projects was established in 2018 by Japan fashion expert Nicole Bargwanna and Tokyo-based lifestyle and design editor-writer Mio Yamada. Nicole and Mio — both long-time residents of Tokyo — first met when a burgeoning re-appreciation of traditional craftsmanship had just begun to prompt sophisticated innovations in Japanese contemporary design. As frequent travelers who shared a passion for finding and gifting unique items from Japan, they found that their discoveries were often met with wonder and joy. Casual coffee conversations about artisans they both admired led to animated discussions about the limited international availability of such Japanese craftsmanship, and finally the idea of NiMi Projects. NiMi Projects is the realisation of Nicole and Mio’s common dream: To introduce and promote a wider appreciation of Japan’s exceptional contemporary design and artisanship in a fun and accessible way.