By Kailyn Huynh
Accumulating almost 130K followers on TikTok and 60K followers on Instagram, Dani Iwami has made a name for herself through her ceramics enterprise Danikawaiistudios.
For Iwami, basketball had always been in the mix. Coming fresh off her high school career as a four-year Varsity starter for Los Alamitos High School, she spent her early college years playing for Hawaii Pacific University, later offering her skills to Western Washington University.
While Iwami’s focus had always been on the court, she also had a passion for the arts.
“Growing up, I definitely wanted to be a basketball player–that was everything I wanted,” Iwami said. “I did have an interest for art and creativity, like my mom. She’s a preschool teacher and she’s pretty artistic, so she definitely instilled that part in me.”
All of that took a turn when Iwami faced three season-ending injuries during her college career. After being surrounded by basketball nearly every day since the age of seven, the injury left Iwami astray and in need of a different focus.
“It was everything I knew and, to lose it, it really made me rack my brain of, ‘What do I actually like? What is important to me?’” Iwami said.
Misfortune, in the hands of Iwami, soon developed into an opportunity to revisit a younger passion of hers: ceramics. Fueled by her interest for creativity, Iwami remembered her love for the art–which began during her high school years. While in her fifth year of college, extended by injury, Iwami signed up for a ceramics non-majors class, slowly turning this forgotten hobby into a serious craft.
Thus became Danikawaiistudios, the culmination of both the artist and athlete, Dani Iwami.
Iwami has always been business-minded, selling mod-podge pencils with her best friend as early as fifth grade. However, converting her new, artistic dreams into a reality would be both a financial and personal challenge.
Throughout her career, Iwami noted the struggle to find balance in the process of creating. However, through the separation of passion and commercial projects, Iwami has allowed herself to both earn and explore at the same time.
Even with the multitude of projects already under her belt, Iwami still finds great value in being able to ground herself in the memories of her first sale.
“Honestly, [it was] just such a huge feeling to be received really well, and [to know] that there were people out there who were interested in things that I created,” Iwami said.
Although fortunate for her craft, Iwami often describes the clay as a battle between herself, having days where she just wishes for one thing to go right in the studio. Through all the trials, she accredits part of her success to the people who have supported her.
Yet, Iwami does not only find love and inspiration within those who surround her. With every purchase made from her business, you’ll find a quote at the bottom of each box; one of which being, “May love find you in every form.”
Iwami preaches the idea of finding love through every outlet, not just through relationships.
“A big part of my brand and myself is how much love there is – between strangers, between activities that you do with yourself, between objects, animals, environments, everything. Everything is love.”
Abiding by her quote, Iwami now shares her love through coaching.
For a long time, Iwami had been a youth girls’ basketball coach, but in April 2024, Iwami accepted the offer to be the assistant coach for Fountain Valley High School’s girls’ basketball team. Unlike her typical position coaching fourth-grade girls, this new high-school environment would require Iwami to reassess her role as a source of guidance and support.
“It’s a privilege … it makes me go harder in the things that I do, just because I want to be a good example to [the girls],” Iwami said.
From featuring her creations to showcasing her lifestyle, Iwami has extended her influence to many aspiring artists, athletes and women. She’s managed to reach so many young girls through her platforms and her coaching, empowering them all to become a more fulfilled version of themselves.
“My biggest thing is just to inspire girls and women to stand up for themselves and stand up for their ideas and their careers,” Iwami said.
This article was originally published in the 2025 RED Magazine. Stop by room 306 to pick up a copy.
