Olivia Wolinski; Credit: KAMI

After the recent opening of KAMI, a new Luxembourg-based online concept store inspired by Japanese stationery and everyday life, Chronicle.lu spoke with its founder, Olivia Wolinski, about the concept behind the project and her connection with Japan.

The Differdange-based shop officially opened on Monday 10 August 2026 and currently offers a selection of Japanese stationery, including notebooks, memo pads, letter-writing sets, stickers, stamps, washi tapes, sticky notes and other accessories.

Olivia Wolinski said she personally selects each product, with the range centred on items that combine practical use with design. "I do not want to add products simply to fill the shop. I prefer to offer a smaller selection and choose each item carefully. It needs to be beautiful, but it also needs to work well and have a real purpose in everyday life," she emphasised.

The name KAMI refers to the Japanese word for "paper", reflecting the central place of paper and stationery within the project. Olivia Wolinski explained that she developed an interest in Japan during childhood through its art, craftsmanship, architecture and design, later strengthening this connection through several trips to the country.

She said: "What has always stayed with me is the care given to even the simplest object. In Japan, something can be practical and modest, but still beautifully made and pleasant to use. I wanted to bring some of that feeling into KAMI." 

Beyond stationery, KAMI is set to expand with a Home collection featuring objects for the home and office. The collection will include handmade candles poured into Japanese ceramic vessels, including some ceramics with minor imperfections or from production surpluses. Once the candle is finished, the ceramic container can be cleaned and reused.

This approach is linked to the Japanese concept of “yō no bi”, or beauty through use, which centres on finding beauty in simple, functional objects that are used and kept over time.

Originally from France and now living in Luxembourg, Olivia Wolinski holds a diploma in International Trade. In 2009, she co-founded Oishii Shop, an online Japanese grocery store based in Thionville, France. She later spent more than ten years working in Luxembourg's financial sector, mainly in financial data management and subsequently trained as an interior designer.

The entrepreneur also plans to organise journaling workshops in Luxembourg, covering practices such as bullet journaling, creative journals, travel journals and reading journals. The workshops are planned for groups of up to six people, with no previous experience required.

In the longer term, she hopes to open a physical KAMI shop in Luxembourg, combining Japanese stationery and everyday objects with workshops. For now, the online store delivers to Luxembourg, France, Belgium and Germany.

Speaking with Chronicle.lu about the idea behind KAMI, Olivia Wolinski explained: "After trying for a long time to find my place within a conventional working environment, I realised that I needed to create a different framework for myself. KAMI allows me to bring together my experience, my connection with Japan and my interest in objects that are both beautiful and useful."

Looking ahead, she said: "KAMI is a very personal project, and I hope people will feel the care behind the selection. I would like it to help people rediscover the pleasure of writing by hand and using simple, beautiful objects every day."