Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikayla Tseng.
Hi Mikayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Mikayla Tseng I’m from the Bay Area, California, I am 21 years old and I started my small business, mi by Mikayla, around January 2022. I currently attend LMU studying graphic design and was on a scholarship for swimming. The start of 2022 was difficult for me due to my swim career ending early because of injuries. I suffered from depression during these few months figuring out my life without swim. During this time, I had extra hours, so I went to my local yarn store, The Knitting Tree LA, to learn how to knit. I have always wanted to have a career in fashion, so why not now! I started knitting a few things here a there and never thought anything of it until I wore my star headbands out. People started telling me I should sell them, and I so did. That is when I created my Instagram to showcase my work, and it went up from there. I am incredibly grateful for all the support from family and friends! In a million years, I would never have thought that mi by Mikayla would grow in the ways it has.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been struggles throughout this process so far, mostly coming from logistics of running a business and website. One super important thing I have been learning is to stay true to myself and understanding that everything takes time and patience. I find myself constantly putting pressure on myself to create new pieces for mi by Mikayla, which eventually burns me out. I am continuing to learn how to find a balance with work and my personal life. As an Asian American woman, one thing that has been intimidating for me is that there is not a lot of Asian American representation in the fashion industry. I want to inspire more Asian American people to not be intimidated to do what they love.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create hand-crafted knitwear ranging from small accessories to high-end clothing pieces. I am most known for my signature star headbands and knitted bows. I am most proud of how well-received my pieces have been in such a short amount of time. What sets me apart from others is my eye for color and materials. My pieces stand out from others as they are subtle in design yet are eye-catching through their simplicity, along with my color palette. I put a lot of love into curating a unique aesthetic on instagram. I find a lot of enjoyment in this, and I feel like it helps me differentiate myself as a brand.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I give a lot of credit to my family and friends. They all believed in me when I didn’t always believe in myself. I still lean on them for support during these times. My mom has been there every step of the way, from my first pop-up to staying up late with me getting everything ready for my drops. I’m very grateful for all the people around me. I also am very thankful for the amazing people I have built relationships with that also have their own small businesses. All of the people who support on social media have also been very encouraging for me. Overall, the support I have gotten for mi by Mikayla has been more than I ever could have imagined.
Pricing:
- Star Headbands – 85$
- Mini Bows – 38$
- Big Bows – 45$
- Sweaters – 250-400$
- Scarves 130-165$
Contact Info:
- Website: mibymikayla.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mi_bymikayla/
Image Credits
@miapolcyn @nosamarat
