Rising Stars: Meet Yvan Tran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvan Tran.

Hi Yvan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born and raised in Orange County, CA, I was influenced by the county’s action sports industry and wanted to pursue career in it with an emphasis in apparel. While I did go to school in Burbank for fashion design, I started my career straight out of college in Huntington Beach for a menswear brand. One would think that your career options with a fashion design degree would be either a designer or product developer, but I got into fabric/raw materials. As a side hustle, called Yvanthi Studio, I would make sorority shirts (sewing Greek letters on shirts), which was a great for me to network with a lot more sisters. However, I really wanted to revamp my side hustle into something else with less sewing and more educational. So earlier this summer 2021, I revamped Yvanthi Studio to be an educational platform on fabric.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started my career in materials, I learned so much more about fabric on the job than through school. And while I continue to learn each day, I still have to be a “fabric expert” to my designers, who also do not know fabric. This was all frustrating for me. I wished my school had taught students that there was more to fashion design than just design. There is a whole process of development and the importance of fabric. That is why I want to share my experience and lessons I have learned through IG and Patreon. I want to show folks a better understanding of raw materials and its development process. From infographics to live chats.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a material developer for a well-known outdoor apparel company. I collaborate with designers, merchandisers, etc. to develop and deliver the best fabrics for the brand. My favorite thing about working in this field is the R&D (research and design). I am always looking out for the latest innovations, technologies, and sustainable materials. Before COVID, I would travel to trade shows like LA Textile and Outdoor Retailer to meet with my mill partners, touch and feel fabrics, attend seminars, and network with industry professionals. Now, everything is virtual, and although I am not able to be more hands-on with product, I am able to “attend” more shows. I enjoy the work, and it is exciting to be able to kickstart the collection and design process by introducing fabric.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I always had an interest in anything creative. From drawing, knitting, sewing, playing the drums, etc. I grew up in a strict household, where my dad would emphasize school more than extracurricular activities. Which I sometimes wished I could do sports or girl scouts, for example. I kind of think having strict parents also made me a bit rebellious in a way that I’d always push back and question “why?”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.patreon.com/yvanthistudio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yvanthi.studio/