Yana Dee
Owner, designer, mastermind

I grew up on Northern Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. From early on I had an overwhelming desire to create and compose the materials and space around me. Being home-schooled allowed me to engage with wonderful mentors that helped me discover the potential I had to create.

My childhood and ongoing obsession with clothing has had little to do with taste and trends, but instead a fascination of how they transform the way I look and feel. My earliest sources of inspiration were a well-stocked dress up barrel, an assortment of dolls, my sisters and my roller skates (you have to be able to move in what you’re wearing!)

In my last year as an art and design student at Finlandia University I finally discovered the fiber studio. Although I enjoyed working with many materials and forms of art, it was designing with textiles that felt very natural and accessible.

I have always enjoyed making things that people use or wear, and as I began selling my pieces, I was able to share this pleasure with others. So with a vintage Viking sewing machine I had been given for my 13th birthday I started sewing skirts and tops, then scarves and bags. I did some local craft shows and a few music festivals. Soon, a couple of local shop owners offered to carry my work and a business was born.

Now over 20 years and countless yards of material later, I am equipped with industrial sewing machines and a diverse pallet of materials. I am now wonderfully engaged in designing and creating accessible, unique and beautiful items for everyday use and wear.

Abby Rose
Manager, seller, co-conspirator

I've always loved being in the outdoors and learning about nature. I majored in Environmental Studies at Northland College WI. I imagined myself working in nonprofits or maybe public parks for my whole career, yet I have found myself working in business and sales, selling a product I believe in with my whole heart. In these times of increasing environmental stress, I am inspired by the power of humans to create art, community, and healthy lives.

I do a lot of different things here at Yana Dee. From setting up and selling at art shows wtih Yana, to bookkeeping and HR, to blogging and Instagram, I dabble in many aspects of the business operations. My favorite part of working here is when I can help someone find something they are excited to wear. I know the feeling of waking up and having clothes that make me smile, and I want everyone to know this joy!

Corrina
Seam teammate

This work is great for me in so many ways. I've always been a nerd for clothes and obsessed with making things. I get to work with natural fabrics that are the best to wear, and the best for the environment. I wake up excited to go to work, and I go home feeling good about what I do. Most importantly, my enthusiasm, ideas, and opinions are appreciated. I'm respected both as a vital part of the process and as an individual.

Viki
Seam teammate, lead scrap processor

Viki plays the important roll of processing much of our potential fabric waste, into wheels of fabric that are then turned into beautiful, unique clothes and accessories like infinity scarves, square dresses, headbands, and tunics. While many clothing producers throw away the "off-cuts" left over from cutting out clothing patterns, our team works through these scraps at the satellite studio in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This scrap fabric gets to carpool to be processed; Viki is Yana and Abby's mom, so she comes to Traverse City often to visit her daughters and grandchildren.

About the Store Team

The store team is all about customer service and sales. The store team is here for you 7 days a week, from 10am-6pm EST. You can stop by, call, or text to directly reach a Yana Dee sales representative. Don't hesitate to reach out! We can answer questions before you place a custom order; help you shop with advise and personal testimonials; tell you about current sizes, colors, and styles in stock; tell you when a package will ship; and clarify care instructions.

About the Studio Team

There is more to being on the "Seam Team" at Yana Dee than sewing! Our talented seamstresses are also consulted for design input during the new product development process. From thread color to sleeve length to color families, production decisions are informed by everyone's input. To reduce waste and succeed as a business, Yana Dee strives to design and produce clothing you will love to wear.

About the Models

There have been many "faces of Yana Dee" over the years. We have had many friends, family, and acquaintances model Yana's original designs. In the beginning, Yana herself was a primary model; These days, she's the one styling every look before Abby takes the photos.