OFFICE HOURS: YI-MEI TRUXES, BEMBIEN
Name: Yi-Mei Truxes
City of Residence: Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York
How do you spend your days? Founder and designer of Bembien. Mother to my girls, Finn (3) and June (1).
What does a typical work day look like for you? I spend most of my work day at our studio in Greenpoint—designing new collections, meeting virtually with our artisan partners around the world, working with our in-house team on everything from marketing to finance to operations. If I’m not at the studio, I’m out visiting our retail partners, at our showroom in Tribeca, or on set for campaign shoots. Every day is different, which is what I love most about my work.
Where is your office? We’re located street level in a historic warehouse building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Visitors are welcome. :)
How do you keep track of your to-do list? I tend to write everything down in a Midori notebook that I picked up from Yoseka, a stationery store around the corner from our studio in Greenpoint. If I don’t have it on hand I use the Notes app on my phone.
Analog or Digital? Analog (ideally) and digital if on the run.
Daily work uniform? Jeans and a button down. I tend to stick to the classics, with a little ‘70s style meets ‘90s mom thrown in there.
Favorite part of your job? Shooting a new collection and seeing our creative vision come to life. We spend so much time designing, sampling, planning, refining color schemes and mood, working on pre-production… all for it to be perfect, so finally being on set and making it happen is deeply fulfilling.
Favorite object/accessory in your office? A painting by Maja Dlugolecki. She makes these dreamy prints on linen that people always ask me about when they visit our studio. I adore everything she does.
Name one thing that is always on your desk: I have an analog calculator that I’ve used for over a decade and very much rely on in a pinch. It’s always, always on my desk. I actually thought I lost it the other day and was in a panic.
What’s something you do outside of work just for yourself? Go on walks around my neighborhood and get lost in a podcast. There is something so therapeutic about having some mental alone time while still being among people in the streets.
Who are you sending your next card / [love] note to? A close friend is having a baby soon! She has sent me so many sweet letters over the years to celebrate all of the milestones of my girls, so I’m looking forward to reciprocating.
