Yana Dee History

Slow Fashion Takes Time

Like most recent college graduates, Yana didn't have much capital to invest into a company when she entered the clothing business in 2004. Although that may have slowed her down, she didn't let it stop her. Using fabrics that fit within her budget and environmental ethos (thrift store curtains and gifted collections, for example) and sewing on a vintage Viking machine, she started making and selling clothing.

Fueled by a passion for creating and a commitment to keep happy customers coming back for more, Yana grew her business slowly and steadily. By reinvesting sales into better equipment and fabric, she was able to expand her customer base. She never needed to sacrifice ethical business practices for the sake of satisfying outside investors with unsustainable profits. 

The business has grown to where it is today, supporting a small, full time staff at living wages. The tight knit team is instrumental in keeping up with the growing demand for well made, flattering, and lasting styles.

Home is Where You Sew

Yana Dee in the Yana Dee StudioHaving a functional studio workspace is essential to a professional creative, and Yana had been inventive and adaptable to always keep a space for design, creativity, and production.

The Yana Dee studio had been based at the Earthwork Farm, Grand Traverse Commons, and two different homes in Traverse City. Even when away from the studio, Yana keeps a steady pace of production. Whether it is button earrings on the living room floor, or strand scarves in the rental home away from home after a day at an art show, Yana always had a creative production project close at hand. Playing with fabric yarn and scraps is a favorite activity with nieces and other young friends!

Pop Up Shops From Day 1

There has been a Yana Dee booth at Blissfest every year for decades. Before she was old enough to have an adult booth, she would set up with friendship bracelets and other handmade trinkets in the youth booth section. Shopping at the booth during Art shows and music festivals was originally the only way to buy Yana Dee! The booth and the business have evolved a ton over the years. You can still find Yana Dee set up at Blissfest and other handmade art shows, but the pop up shop is no longer the only way to try and buy.

Wholesale

Think you've seen these clothes in a store before? You could be right. Yana Dee has been carried by Traverse City Stores including Ella's and more. Around the country, she had been in Fed by Threads in Tucson AZ, Switch Shoes in Portland OR, and Clothing Matters in Grand Rapids MI. Scarves have been carried by many gift stores and boutiques as well.

Online Sales

Yana has been selling custom made organic clothing in Etsy since 2010. Her first product website launched in 2014. It is important to be able to reach women all over the world with these essential organic wardrobe items, and create them to order in any side, color, or proportion.

Downtown Traverse City Store

Yana Dee outside the Yana Dee store in Traverse City MichiganThe store opened at 157 East Front Street in Traverse City Michigan in October 1 2014. Renting a retail space was rather unexpected, so it was a whirlwind to prepare the space, and there was a lot of work to do making clothes to fill the racks. It is so much fun to have a whole store, and a team to work with. We love having a reliable place to play dress up. Rain or shine, the store is warm and dry!

Like our story? It's not over yet. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and sign up for your newsletter, to stay in the loop.