Today we’d like to introduce you to Yunice J. Emir.
Yunice J., can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
At the beginning of 2016, I met friends for a New Year’s brunch to kick off the year. After we finished eating, we each shared one thing, one goal that we wanted to accomplish that year. I’m extremely private so I wrestled with what I would share when it was my turn. Instead of holding back, I professed what I was thinking and said: “I want to be and give the love I want to receive.”
After that day, the ideas started flowing and I started taking notes on my phone. Every time I had a related thought, I would add it to my list, not knowing what the end result would be. I have always been a lover of love and anything that symbolizes love. I would and still look for love symbols when traveling and seeing those symbols makes my heart smile and gives me giddy feelings. I’m also a huge hugger and love to give hugs…so much so that I can look at my close friends a certain way and they know I’m coming in for a hug. I started thinking that I wish I could hug the world and the ideas continued to flow so I continued to take notes. Since it’s physically impossible for me to hug the world, I created Love Always YJE, my love letter to the world, which allows me to share my love with others and encourage them to love themselves, seek love in all things and love others through fashion (one of my other favorite things).
The Love Always YJE logo is a heart surrounding my initials, YJE. The carefully customized logo symbolizes me surrounding myself with love (self-love) and projecting my love onto those who see the logo (share love). The evolution of the brand’s love begins with the love poured into each design, garment and package then, extends to the person wearing Love Always YJE apparel, which spreads love to everyone who sees or comes in contact with the brand.
When love ambassadors make a purchase, they receive a love letter from me (YJE), a blank notecard and stamped envelope for the fellow love enthusiast to write their own love letter and send it to a loved one—romantic, family, friend or anyone who makes their heart smile.
Love Always YJE was officially launched on August 26, 2016.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been smooth. Like many other entrepreneurs, I have a full-time job that requires long hours, late nights and some weekends so I have to really work at time management so I’m able to give my full self at work as well as Love Always YJE. I haven’t explored outside funding, but after doing my taxes the first year and seeing how much I spent, I was stunned because I was going full speed ahead without doing the proper tracking. It scared me, but I’ve kept going because I know the purpose is worth it and everyone needs some love.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am most proud of the movement we’ve sparked to remind people to love themselves, seek love in all things and love others which is activated every time someone visits our website, social media or interacts with us at special events and/or our annual Galentine’s Day Pop-Up where we pass out love letters, roses and communicate love messages to make their heart smile.
The foundation of our brand, the authenticity of our founder’s passion for spreading love, our love letters and encouragement to continue spreading the love by taking a brief moment to write a love letter to someone else sets us apart.
What were you like growing up?
I was very quiet as a young child which has made me a very good listener. I was nice, kind, funny, silly, fun, gregarious, caring, curious, loyal and loving and I still possess those characteristics. I’ve always had an affinity for fashion and making people smile and feel good about themselves.
Pricing:
- Tees start at $25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lovealwaysyje.com
- Email: love@lovealwaysyje.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysyje
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovealwaysyje
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lovealwaysyje
Image Credit:
Ari Skin, Jasmine Blunt
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