A 5 question Q and A session with MACROMINIMICRO designer Sanly Yuen-Li.
Q: What does MACROMINIMICRO mean and how did you come up with this name?
My husband Kenny and I have nicknames for our 3 children- macro bear, mini bear and micro bear. The name is a combination of the 3 nicknames.
Q: Have you always designed bags?
I was a dress designer in my previous design life. I worked in New York and Los Angeles designing everything from contemporary sportswear to party dresses, even wedding gowns. When I became a mom, I couldn’t find a good bag, despite there being so many in the market. Most of the bags were overstated in their design while not having enough organization built into them. I envisioned a bag that was unisex and as effective for traveling with my kids as for running errands or working remotely on my own. I decided to design my own and that’s how MACROMINIMICRO was born (pun intended, hah!). I’m launching The Secret Crossbody Convertible first. It is compact, versatile and understatedly cool.
Q: What inspired you to create these bags?
It sounds cliché but I saw a void that I felt I could fill. I wanted to offer a more elevated and higher functioning bag for parents, commuters and jet setters. I envisioned a bag that could wear many hats rather than having multiple bags you need to switch in and out of. I designed these bags to serve and support you through the many facets of life. The unisex design is important as I saw this void in men’s bags as well as women’s. And, as a born and raised New Yorker with a love for street fashion, a refined street fashion attitude runs deep in this collection.
This year has been one of self discovery and one profound takeaway has been that my purpose is to serve others through my designs and art.
Q: Who or what inspired you to do what you’re doing now?
At an early age, I was interested in design. My mother Linda was my role model in this area. She was a brilliant pattern maker who worked with American couturiers in New York City to create exquisite clothing for their collections. Her creative and technical work has been worn by Gladys Knight, Oprah, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.
My mother passed away last year and this loss threw me into my creative work with more force than ever before. I want to honor and celebrate her in this work, and to see my creative vision through from start to wherever it leads me.
Q: Do you have big plans for MACROMINIMICRO?
I am living in the moment and enjoying the birth of my collection without thinking too far ahead. I look forward to creating, fulfilling orders, getting the bags into the lives of my customers and learning how I can evolve the collection.
Every step toward this moment, big and small, has made the journey worthwhile. I am filled with gratitude!
