About Irma Niekum
~ founder
& artist
What if you could wake up everyday and completely fall in love with your work? What if you felt so passionate about something that it became a part of you -- an extension of who you are? I'm lucky to be able to say that my work is my passion. Gifts Define is that extension of me and resonates all of the creative passion I have for creating whimsical little treats that make people happy. I am so blessed to know that with every stitch of every treasure I create, I ultimately bring a smile to another's face. Art has always come naturally for me as my Dad would spend his weekend to teach me the art of calligraphy and illustrations, while my Mother and Aunts would surround me with colorful fabrics, craft journals, and handmade dolls. Having an outlet for my creativity gave me a sense of enlightenment and joy at being able to imagine storybook happy little characters in my mind and make them tangible.
After moving to the United States in 2001 to attend graduate school, I quickly became homesick for my native Indonesia and the family and friends I had left behind. To find some comfort in my new surroundings, I resumed my hobby of creating felt stuffies which became my, "little friends away from home." Not only did my hobby keep the homesickness at bay while I made new friends, it helped me hone my artistic skills and bring some more of my designs to life. In 2006 I knew I was ready to take my hobby to the next level. Though I worked for corporate America, my heart really belonged in developing my creativity into a business. In that light, Gifts Define™ was launched! Now, Gifts Define™ is a premier place to find premium gifts and party favors, decorative objects and so much more. The cornerstones of my business are the true uniqueness of every item matched by the superb quality and top notch customer service. I'm always expanding Gift Define's product lines to add even more incredible products to make my customer's smile, and reflect how happy I am to be doing what I love, everyday.
About Gifts Define™
~ our handmade goodness
Draw on modern takes on versatile wool felt and an almost magical touch, our creative company offers an eclectic range of boutique products for contemporary gift giving, premium party favors and decorative objects for modern home. Our product is infused with vibrant color, expert craftsmanship and exceptional charm. Unlike many mass produced gifts and decor items in the marketplace, Gifts Define™ opens doors to the practicality of personalized, beautiful products with real value and lasting quality. We use soft wool felt material imported from Europe with OEKO-Tex 100 Standard Certification; which guarantees that our wool felt are safe and 100% free of harmful toxic chemical or lead. Our products are aesthetically designed for decorative purposes and are NOT recommended for babies or small children. Gifts Define's creations are made in USA, our studio is located in Tampa, Florida.
Sources of illustrations and images are copyright Gifts Define, Inc. We've had the privileges to work with these amazing photographers: Mandy Lynne Photography, Meg Fish Photography, Nancy Lam, Shawna Percival and Kathy Murdock.
~ our mission & philosophy
We always find gift-giving occasions extra special as they represent a time to reflect on something extraordinary about the gift recipient in the eyes of the gift giver. The idea has shaped our mission: To bring unique, one-of-a-kind gift creations that will make those occasions truly memorable! At Gifts Define™, we strongly embrace our "Quality, Care and Commitment" philosophy in offering you the best handmade creations along with unsurpassed customer service. Gifts Define™ staff and artisans are individuals who care and love what they do and what they create!
~ our solid creative team
Irma Niekum (founder, artist, head of creative)
Jeff Niekum (head of product R&D)
Okky Chiandra (seamstress extraordinaire)
Henry Viradi (head of finance)
About Giving Back
~ the charities we hold dearly
Gifts Define donates a portion of its profits to 'Suara Karya' (Voice of Art), an organization which Irma Niekum established in West Java province of her native Indonesia in 2007. The organization allocates these donations to low income women seeking better education and health care.
We also support the "International Humanity Foundation' (IHF). IHF is a non-profit organization that focuses on helping poor children in South East Asia & Africa.
For our continuous support for the animals, we support PAWS organization (Performing Animal Welfare Society). PAWS is dedicated to the protection of performing animals, to provide sanctuary to abused or abandoned captive wildlife, enforce the best standards of care for all captive wildlife, and promote public education about captive wildlife issues.
