Reimagined garments with Joon Yasué

Words by: Malik F.

The way we approach our clothing is something that we all have to take into consideration. What do we do with all the clothes that we no longer wear, what about the pieces that we love but no longer fit our style, do we donate them or try to sell them? Those are questions that Joon Yasué asked herself when she started this project, just a couple of months ago. As a conscious fashion consumer there comes a point when buying is not always needed, just a touch of imagination, a needle + thread, with a pinch of curiosity in what you can make with the materials at hand. We spoke briefly with Joon about the repurposing of old garments, quarantine, and family.

Reebok Coreset

When did you start this project?

I started JYSU (@jysuofficial) on 7.30.2020 as a platform to share my ideas and reworked pieces that I have been creating. That was the day the concept of this project became a reality. I had played with the idea of starting my brand for years but always felt like the timing wasn't right. Timing is everything in life, it has this chain reaction effect on how things play out. Quarantine gave me the time and space to bring my ideas to fruition.

What made upcycling the right move for you?

I try to take the current global conditions and climate crisis into consideration with any project I pursue. The concept of upcycling is simply modifying something old or unwanted and bringing it back to life in another form. I like to think of it as reincarnating clothes. What was an outdated pair of pants yesterday can be a hot lil dress tomorrow! Finding creative ways to be sustainable is essential now more than ever, so this upcycling movement is so important for the future of our planet.

I’ve been upcycling and reworking my clothes since middle school, whether it was cropping a t-shirt or cutting up jeans into shorts. My friends and I would watch MTV and get inspiration from music videos. We’d make our versions of the styles we saw our favorite artists wearing. I had to get creative and work with what I had back then, and that mentality stuck with me throughout my life. 

I was living in New York for the past two years before the pandemic uprooted me back home to San Francisco. I had to unpack and sort through all my personal belongings after the move. I ended up with this pile of clothes, pieces from over the years that no longer suited me. My local Goodwill was closed due to the shelter in place order, so I was stuck with these pieces.

That's when the inspiration to start reworking clothes hit. I had this old pair of Adidas track pants that were worn down and lifeless. I ended up reworking those pants into this two-piece top and skirt set. I posted the finished product on my IG and ended up getting positive feedback, and that's when I was like, I might have done something here!

It is also an amazing outlet for my anxiety disorder that I struggle with. Something about working with your hands and sewing is therapeutic for me. 

 How did fashion/style come in your life?

Fashion has been a substantial part of my life from my earliest memories. A lot of people don't know this, but my dad owns a vintage clothing store on Haight Street called Static Vintage (@staticvintage), which he opened in 2003. He is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to entrepreneurship, my sense of style, and love for fashion. Watching his work ethic from such a young age has been one of my biggest motivations. He started from the bottom and worked his way up in life. 

The vintage and reselling market is so huge now and anyone can do it with the technology we have. When my dad started over 20 years ago, only a few people were in the reselling business, and they had to be extremely well versed in popular brands to buy. There was no iPhone back then to google specs on any item like we do today. There was no Instagram to see what was trending back then. You got your game from movies and fashion magazines.

I got my first part-time job in my Sophomore year of high school at a clothing boutique in San Francisco. I remember getting my workers-permit as soon as I was old enough to start saving up money (mostly for clothes). Since then I’ve worked in almost every aspect of the fashion industry from sales to production, styling, photography, casting, creative directing, marketing, event planning, to now designing for my brand. Working every angle of the industry gave me so much insight into how everything works. The best part about starting JYSU is that I get to pursue all of my passions in one place. It's kind of crazy thinking about how it all came full circle, yet this is only the beginning. 

 What's something that you have learned in these last couple of months that have helped you be a better you?

Oooo, there's a lot. These past months and years, in general, have been some of the most trying times, to say the least. 

I’ve learned that nothing is promised, and you have to be strong AF and be able to adapt to whatever cards life may hand you. Embrace changes and work with them instead of fighting against them. For a long time, I was fighting against what the universe had in store for me, and that just blocked my blessings and opportunities. As soon as I began to accept things, that's when all these doors started opening.

Having more time during quarantine has been a huge shift for me. Before the pandemic, I was working non-stop in New York and was always on the go to an event or show after work. If you’ve lived in NY you know that perspective of time is on a whole different spectrum out there. I didn't feel like I had the personal time or mental energy to start my projects back then. I’ve realized how important it is to take the time to invest in yourself. 

Also, being mindful of others because it's a pandemic out there, and everyone is fighting their own battles whether you know it or not. Even a simple check-in can mean so much to someone, especially during these isolating and unprecedented times.

Ultimately, I think 2020 is the year that we wake up to what we want in life and to let go of what is no longer serving us. At the Ieast, I hope we can all walk away from this as more compassionate and empathetic human beings.