Yuka Yoneda is a writer and designer from Queens, New York. She is an editor of Inhabitat, contributor to eco-fashion site Ecouterre and the winner of this year’s Naya Renew Your Soles 5-Day Style Challenge! Learn more about the contest here.
In 2008, Yuka looked in the mirror and didn’t like what she saw. Always feeling like there was something missing from her life, she had turned to excess, amassing a mountain of clothes, shoes, bags, and random tchotchkes to fill the void. Yuka knew she had to make a difference, so she started Clossette, a site for vintage, thrifted, refashioned and handmade garments. When she isn’t writing about sustainable design, Yuka amuses herself by making trash into treasure, hunting for goodies at her favorite thrift shop, and offering up vintage, secondhand and refashioned clothes from her own closet.
How do you like to relax?
I like to relax by making stuff – dresses, glow in the dark shoes, clothes with cat ears on them, you name it. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but the repetitive motion of sewing or even just cutting out shapes with scissors lulls me into a wonderful stupor that even watching TV can’t replicate. A big heaping bowl of mac n’ cheese is always nice too!
How do you help soften your footprint on our earth?
My website Clossette.com is all about “re-lovable fashion.” My mom and I take our own old clothes and preloved clothes that people send in to us and turn them into sparkly new treasures. There are so many perfectly wearable clothes that end up in landfills, and other garments are made by workers under terribly inhumane conditions. I came up with Clossette to show a different model of where clothes could come from.
Sleep is a huge part of renewing your mind body and soul. What is your routine before going to sleep each night? Any tips on how to sleep soundly?
I usually lull myself to sleep by reading a good mystery, but keeping some truly boring literary materials on hand is an easy way to knock yourself out. I read somewhere that winding down by not exposing yourself to anything electronic – your TV, smartphone, laptop,etc. – is a tip to falling asleep more easily and tend to agree. It’s also a good idea to make it clear in your mind that your bedroom is a place specifically for sleeping. If you constantly work or watch TV in there, it might put you into other mindsets that aren’t conducive to sleep. I live in a studio apartment where my whole room is the bedroom, so that’s been kind of tough for me!
What is your favorite drink to help you relax?
While I love my boozy beverages as much as the next girl, my favorite calming drink is water that isn’t too cold. Drinking water helps flush the toxins that might make you anxious or antsy out of your body without adding any sugars, chemicals or other nasty stuff.
Do you have a favorite song that helps you renew yourself?
Anything that’s 90s rap or hip hop. I wouldn’t say it’s relaxing but it definitely brings me back to sitting in the warmth of the sun on a basketball court in lower Manhattan without a care in the world. No taxes, no rent to pay. Just feeling good.
Do you participate in any outdoor activities that renew your mind, body or spirit?
To be honest, I am probably the least outdoorsy person ever. Unfortunately, I rarely even leave my house since I’m online all the time. But when I do, I love just walking. It’s an easy, low impact exercise that even the laziest person can do!
What is your favorite Naya shoe and why?
The Kasha is my favorite Naya shoe because it’s a timeless color and silhouette that
will look just as good 20 years from now as it does today. I love the smart almost menswear-ish details like the buckle and it’s a great height that seems comfy enough to take you around the city without having to buy bunion pads.
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