I met Martina Sacchini one day by chance on Facebook. While jumping from one Italian handmade page to another, I stopped and stepped into ‘her house’, at Kamido.
The name Kamido is Japanese, it attracted me instantly. Then photos of colourful origami, happy necklaces, and funny brooches welcomed me to Martina’s world. I stayed there for a while, then I met Martina again, this is how we became blogging pals.

 – Martina’s most popular creation, 100% customisable and playful  –

I couldn’t leave her without asking for an interview, so I had the pleasure to know better KAMIDO, the artisan, and Martina, the girl. Let’s take a matcha together and let me present her…

How and when was ‘KAMIDO’ born?
I can’t say exactly when KAMIDO was born because; basically, it’s a project that has always belonged to me. Since I was a little girl, this ‘artistic vein’ has grown up. The official initiation happened in August 2015, but I’ve been devoting the biggest part of my time working with paper some months before. All have started from paper as my name can suggest.

I’ve decided to call myself KAMIDO by joining two Japanese words, kami: paper and do: way, a road showing my physical and emotional path.

When this adventure started I hadn’t got clear in my mind what I would do or where it would take me. All have started as a game, just for fun to see if others could actually like what I was creating in my spare time. I’ve been very lucky in my way since I met a true friend who took me under her protective wing, with whom I work on different projects and to which I won’t say “thank you” enough for all her advice and comprehension.

Could you tell us something about your background? Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Rome, last year I graduated in Oriental languages and cultures – in the Japanese language to be precise – then I’ve taken the qualification to teach Italian to foreign students. During these years of studies, I’ve always been trying to reserve some creative moments for me to clear my mind from thoughts and focus on something purely beautiful. Japanese culture has brought me to the origami world, little masterpieces born from simple paper sheets, so delicate and ephemeral. One has to take extra care while creating them and equal care to preserve them as anything with real value.

What’s your goal?
My goal is to try to grow while keeping in mind what really matters in life. Thinking about what the future could be like scares me, so I’m dedicating myself to carrying on some work-in-progress projects, doing always my best. I must thank a lot of people, both the closest and the far ones, for all the beautiful things happening to me right now. They’re just physically far because these people are supporting me and they’re the first in believing in my capabilities and me.

How do you imagine your typical customer? 
I imagine my typical customer as a young woman who appreciates the beauty of life, a woman with a sophisticated taste for fashion, someone with whom I can share my ‘creativity flashes’. I speak to all those mothers who may not have enough spare time but don’t renounce a great taste for accessories or home and party decorations.

What inspires you the most?
I find my inspiration in everything I see every single day, small things grabbing my attention and turning on a light bulb in my head. The journey starts spontaneously; I always say that there are some days when I feel “inspired” and able to do everything. These great days are almost always sunny days, fortunately, the sun is always present in Rome.

Do you have an inspiring place, where you create or sketch the product?
I create all my pieces on my heavy wooden table in my living room with my leather couch observing me while I work, that’s the safer place where I let my fantasy run free.

Do you have a project for the near future?
In the next future, I plan to pursue my ‘creative’ experience and continue with all my ongoing collaborations. I want to make my brooch, necklace and home decor shop, grow even more, keep studying, and improve my skills in digital graphics and illustrations. But most of all, I want to continue writing and recording video tutorials and DIYs along with a group of people I found out to be wonderful people as well as fabulous artists.

Her fairy and delicate hands create small wonders that put a smile on my face. Martina imagines greeting cards shaped like kokeshi dolls and colourful wooden necklaces.

– Martina Sacchini and her new collection Kimi –

In her creations, I feel the touch of the Rising Sun and it isn’t just for the origami magic she loves… When I visit KAMIDO, I imagine myself in an orderly Japanese high school while doodling on a piece of paper. There’s a  classmate of mine who gently ‘steals’ it and turns this scribbled idea into something wonderful. Martina turns dreams into reality, wearable ideas.

Everything about Martina: KAMIDO’s handmade creations are on her Facebook page and on her Etsy store, a myriad of DIY inspiration and pieces of her sunny life are on Instagram.
Arigatou gozaimasu!

Valentina Chirico aka Valens