At BeOne, we seek out small business owners developing new business models based on sustainable solutions, putting environmental concerns at the forefront of their business. We talk about all things small business ownership, creating a sustainable future, social responsibility, and the lessons learned.
Recently, we spoke with Yasemin Germiyanligil, the founder of NYC-based handmade knitwear sustainable fashion brand Daisy Lane. Produced in small quantities using locally sourced yarns, Daisy Lane produces unique garments sustainably while also employing victims of domestic violence.
We asked Yasemin about the inspiration for starting her business, her environmental concerns in the fashion industry, and the steps she's taking to make a difference.
Read on for our discussion.
Why did you start your own business? What was your motivation?
Yasemin: "My name is Yasemin Germiyanligil. I am 23 years old, and Daisy Lane is a part of a natural evolution of my creativity. I grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, and learned how to sew at age 6. I loved embroidering jeans, t-shirts, and all of my dad’s clothes. When people would ask me, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' my answer would always be, 'I’m not going to.'
I put on dance recitals for my teddy bears, played teacher with anyone willing, wrote and performed not-so-good songs, and really, really milked being a child. I loved being a child. As people began to tell me 'It’s time to grow up,” I decided the only way to keep my creativity was to be an artist. It seemed the only way to escape the adult world and be myself.
I pursued this and went to NYU for a Fine Arts degree. I studied painting and decided I was going to become a full-time painter post-graduation. I finished in May 2022 and started working in an artist's studio. I deeply enjoyed the painting and drawing aspects but hated having to report to a gallery, them almost telling us to 'Paint this because it will sell better' and 'Don’t paint that, it won’t go for over 15k,' or even 'paint on a big canvas, [it] will be more expensive.'
As soon as I realized being a full-time painter meant accepting the way of the very institutionalized art world, I decided to do something else. I searched for ways to express myself without the confines of an existing 'institution' or 'world.' I decided I would make my own clothes. I had complete freedom, designing whatever I liked and listening to nobody.
This was the first time in years that I felt like a child again. I started making bikinis for a girls' trip, and the more my friends started wearing them, the more people were asking me to buy swimsuits. I made the first suits myself and later found a Turkish non-profit teaching victims of domestic abuse knitting so they can be financially independent while also housing them for free.
I met with the head of the organization and the five ladies who are the knitters and immediately hired them to make my bikinis. Bikinis turned into coverups, which turned into ready-to-wear, all-season clothing."
How is your business contributing to environmental sustainability?
Yasemin: "Daisy Lane produces in small quantities, sometimes even made to order. We never buy yarn as an export and use all-natural pigment to dye our yarn. Daisy Lane employs those who need it the most and supports the local economy not only by creating jobs but also by purchasing local goods. Daisy Lane does not ship internationally except in bulk."
Why is environmental sustainability important to you?
Yasemin: "Environmental sustainability, I think, just means being sustainable. If you are sustainable in your business, you will be environmentally sustainable. I feel deeply connected to our home, and value to leave it a good place for children and future inhabitants of Earth. Buying small, contributing to the local economy, keeping everything natural, and hiring people who are conscious of this matter is extremely important to me. Everything is handmade with local yarn not only is it sustainable but also allows the garments to be unique and a labor of love, which I believe my customers feel."
What other values are crucial to your business?
Yasemin: "Uniqueness, local communities, creativity, and testing boundaries set by the 'social norms' of the world."
If you could get 85% of the world to adopt a single behavior, what would it be?
Yasemin: "I really wish every adult would remember, at all times, that they were once an ever-curious, wide-eyed child. I think the purity and innocence of a child is something we need to care for in our world. The more we connect with our inner child, the more careful we will interact with the world, other people, and our businesses."
Say hi to the founder Yasemin ! 💟