Kamibashi, a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the Museum Store Association, is dedicated to bringing handmade art from Asia to the West (and beyond)! We work directly with artists in northern Thailand to make The String Doll Gang - 200+ small characters made almost entirely of string bearing messages of good fortune to everyone. We are located in Asheville, NC and have been in business for 20 years.
A Love for Asian Arts
Kamibashi owners Kristen and Chris Daniels started Kamibashi (Japanese for "paper bridge") while teaching English to university students in Kyoto, Japan. A few months before moving to their new hometown of Asheville, NC in 2005, they read a story in an English language magazine about string dolls while they were having breakfast at a café in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Curious to see these small string creatures in person, they headed to the night market that evening, and the rest is history!
Bringing Kamibashi to Life
Fifteen years later, Kamibashi is still going strong. What started as a group of 15 string doll characters has grown to over 250, most of which are designed together with the leaders of the two string doll groups we have been working with since the very beginning. Kristen, Chris, and the Kamibashi team (meet them below!) never fail to be amazed by the creativity of their string doll artisans and their ability to make pretty much anything and anyone out of string.
Their shih tzu Pupperoo has been with them for 13 years and she’s as much a puppy as the day they brought her home in 2007. She is a steady presence in the Kamibashi office and the cuteness factor never goes away. If you are ever in Asheville, NC, please come and visit the String Doll House and get a dose of love from Pupperoo!
Meet Vickie
I've been working at Kamibashi since October 2015! I'm deeply passionate about Fair Trade and its positive impact worldwide, so I am very grateful to be part of a small business that also holds and practices the same beliefs. My interests include horror, fashion, and traveling to exciting new places. I love every single string doll but Chico, who looks like my dog Bruno, and Mothman, whom I helped design, are my two favorites! Outside of work, my world revolves around my wonderful daughter, Xochitl, and my amazing husband, Eric!
Meet Lisbeth
I've been working at Kamibashi since August 2021! My favorite part of Kamibashi is the relaxed and chill workplace environment. My interests and hobbies are making beaded crafts like keychains and phone charms. I also enjoy listening to music, watching shows, building Legos, and working out. My favorite string dolls would have to be Luv Bird and Ursa because they are very cute!
Meet Jazmin
I recently started working at Kamibashi in September 2024. I really enjoy being part of the team, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute. My favorite part is when I get orders for dolls I haven't seen before; I love appreciating the true art of each doll. They are all incredible, but if I had to choose, Gaia would be my favorite.