The Ikigai of Mottainai & Creativity, with Victoria Close from Biku Designs

Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai

On the latest episode of the podcast our guest is Victoria Close from Bikudesigns, a vintage kimono jewellery brand. The Japanese concept of Mottainai ( もったいない ), which expresses a sadness or regret about wasting or mistreating resources, has become very important to Victoria in both her life and work. It also gave her a word for something she’d felt since she was a young child. In the episode we find out more about Mottainai, about Victoria’s creative work, and insights into showing up authentically and intentionally online as a creative and a business owner.

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• About the concept of Mottainai and how it manifests in Victoria’s life and work
• What Victoria’s learned about starting her own business
• How Victoria is showing up authentically on YouTube
• The importance of intentionality
• About the Creative Calm challenge and how you can participate

About Victoria:

Victoria Close is the creative force behind Bikudesigns, a vintage kimono jewelry brand. She crafts unique pieces using vintage and antique fabrics and other found objects she personally sources. Driven by the 'mottainai' philosophy, Victoria is dedicated to repurposing forgotten items and keeping them out of landfills.

In 2023, Victoria launched ‘Studio Biku’ in Shimokitazawa, a cozy Showa-era studio. Here, she designs her jewelry, runs a small shop featuring 12 international makers based in Japan, conducts creative workshops, and rents out the space to emerging artists and designers for their own classes.

A dedicated advocate for creative small businesses, Victoria offers practical, hands-on and online courses, and founded the Overseas Makers Guild, a free Facebook community that supports, connects, and celebrates handmade business owners. She also mentors creative entrepreneurs through her one-on-one programs. Victoria has called Tokyo home for over half her life and lives in Shimokitazawa with her British husband and their two children.

Connect with Victoria:

Website: https://www.bikudesigns.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bikudesigns/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bikudesigns/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studio_biku

Connect with Jennifer:

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach

Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/

Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/