Yenalgia started from a memory. My dad in ripped jeans and a leather jacket, riding through the city on his bike. He wasn’t trying to be stylish. That was just how he was. As a kid, I looked up to him. That image stuck with me. It’s what got me into clothes in the first place.

A lot of this brand comes from that influence, what I saw him wear growing up, what made him feel like himself. But it’s also shaped by my own experience as a Vietnamese American. There’s something in the mix of both those worlds that I wanted to capture. The feeling of not fully belonging to one or the other, but finding style in that in-between space.

The name Yenalgia comes from my mom’s name, Yen. She raised me most of my life. She didn’t dress loud, but she carried herself with intention. Everything she did had care behind it, and that stuck with me too. The name blends her with the word nostalgia. It just felt right. This brand is a reflection of both my parents in a way. I’m their kid, and this brand feels like mine.

We work with a private manufacturer in Vietnam to produce our pieces. Everything is made in small runs with care, and we make sure the people behind the work are treated right. It’s about quality, but also about values.