Sew It Begins - Emily Trang @emtrang.makes

Meet Emily Trang, the founder of emtrang, where thoughtful design, cultural storytelling, and community come together through handmade work. Rooted in her Chinese American identity and shaped by early lessons from her mom and grandma, Emily’s creative journey grew organically from intimate sewing workshops with friends into a welcoming space for learning, making, and connection. Through her small business, she invites others to slow down, create with intention, and find joy in the process.

What is the last thing you were curious about? 

I was curious what people would want to make in my next sewing workshop—skirts or pajama pants/shorts—so I ran a poll on Instagram. Pajama pants are the winner!

What can the community help you with?

As someone who makes hand-sewn products, it really means a lot when the community supports what I do and appreciates the time and care that goes into each piece. In a world of fast fashion, the effort behind handmade work is often overlooked, and the value of the process can get lost. I encourage the community to support small businesses like ours—it makes a big difference!

Share another Asian-women-owned small business or entrepreneur that inspires you!

A good friend, Britni, from Heirloom Leather Journal is incredibly inspiring. Her passion for her craft and her intention to build a meaningful, creative community really resonates with me. Hearing about her decision to go full-time in her creative work was especially encouraging—it’s something I’m working toward professionally, and it affirmed that this path is possible for me too.

Can you tell us about key milestones and significant events that have shaped your business’s journey up to the present day? (i.e. Jan 2023 - Established LLC for business, Mar 2023 - Officially opened business, etc.)

My journey with emtrang has grown very organically. I held my very first sewing workshop with friends in November 2024, which really planted the seed for what this could become.Shortly after, in December 2024, I officially filed for my business and launched emtrang.

A major milestone came in July 2025, when I participated in my first maker’s market. I ended up selling far more than I expected, which was both exciting and validating. While preparing for that market—and another one in November 2025—I began hosting monthly sewing workshops.

Over the span of just one year, more than 120 students have attended emtrang workshops in my own home! That experience has only deepened my excitement and love for the work I do, and it’s been incredibly motivating to keep building and growing this community.

Tell us about the product/service you are most proud of.

I’m most proud of starting my sewing workshops. What began as something small for friends who simply wanted to learn how to sew grew into a meaningful experience and connection point for people across the Bay Area. I’ve had attendees drive from over an hour away, which has been incredibly humbling and affirming. Seeing people come together to learn, create, and connect through something I love has been one of the most

rewarding parts of my work.

What do you tell yourself whenever you encounter a challenge or setback with your business?

I always remind myself that there will always be someone out there who appreciates what I create, and if I don’t see it or hear it, I can be that person for myself. As long as I enjoy what I’m making, it’s a bonus if others enjoy it too!

How has your cultural identity influenced your journey so far?

Growing up, I was really inspired by a lot of Asian American creators and YouTubers. Seeing people who shared a similar background to mine creating and putting their work out into the world made it feel more possible for me too. As I started developing my own work, I found myself wanting to incorporate my Chinese American identity in a way that felt honest. There are so many talented designers out there, but there are certain elements—like Chinese knotting—that are specific to my culture and personal to me. Including those details helps my work feel more meaningful and gives it a point of view that’s uniquely mine.

Based on your products like the Yi Bag and Quilted Vest/Jacket, it’s clear that Chinese cultural influences play a role in your designs.  How do you approach drawing from cultural references in a way that feels authentic to you, and where do you typically look for inspiration when developing new designs?

When I’m designing new pieces, I honestly go back and forth a lot between wanting to create something that clearly includes my signature elements and just making something I genuinely love. Over time, I’ve realized that I don’t need to limit myself to one specific detail—like the knots—for my work to feel connected to my identity. My creativity can show up in different ways across different pieces, and that still feels authentic to me.

I’m very much still developing my own style and creative direction, and a lot of my inspiration comes from brands based in Asia, where I’m constantly drawn to the silhouettes, textures, and details. I’m also really inspired by the sewist community on Instagram—seeing how others experiment, share their process, and push themselves creatively always influences how I think about new designs.

In your 2024 Sewing Workshop Vlog, you mentioned that your mom and grandma taught you how to sew and that you wanted to be a fashion designer since the Second Grade. How do those early influences continue to inspire your work now?

Having early support from my family really allowed me to embrace a more creative path, and because of that, my work feels very unrestricted. I’ve had experiences creating for others that didn’t bring me joy, which honestly pushed me away from the industry for a while. But over time, as I started creating for myself again, I found my way back. Growing up in an immigrant household also kept me closely connected to my culture, and that’s a big reason why I naturally like to incorporate those influences into my work today.

Your first workshop took place in 2024, with more following in 2025. How did your approach to hosting workshops change over time, and what did those early experiences teach you?

When I first started hosting workshops, it was honestly just because a lot of my friends wanted to learn how to sew. That made me realize that if people I knew were interested, there were probably plenty of strangers who wanted to learn too. From there, it grew very organically—friends brought friends, it spread on social media, and it just kept building from there.

Those early workshops taught me a lot about patience and about meeting people where they are. Things that feel easy to me aren’t always easy for others, and I definitely underestimated both the time and skill level certain projects required. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments along the way, especially when choosing what products to teach.

More than anything, I’ve learned that there are so many people looking for spaces like this—to gather, create, and connect with others. That’s really shaped how I approach workshops now. I want to teach projects that people genuinely want to make, things they’ll actually use and love, and I’m continuing to expand on that as the workshops grow.

Emily reminds us that creativity doesn’t have to be rushed to be meaningful. Her workshops and designs celebrate patience, care, and the beauty of handmade work in a fast-fashion world. As she continues to build a community grounded in creativity and authenticity, Emily encourages us all to create what we love—and to support the makers who do the same. To connect or collaborate,

https://www.emtrang.co/

https://www.instagram.com/emtrang.makes/