an important question: emilie jehng

founder/designer of soft good studio

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an important question will be an on-going series of asking the questions that get to the heart of it all. this series is inspired by durga chew bose’s interview, time will tell, with dev hynes where her honest and candid questions touch on the small moments of being human that we all share. i was incredibly touched by people’s responses to these very personal questions and i hope you find something in these questions and answers that make you feel less alone, inspired and comforted that gently, we exist.

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emilie jehng is the founder and designer of soft good studio where she makes bespoke jewelry and also designs pieces that reflect the asian american experience and culture. her work is incredibly beautiful, poignant and deeply personal and i have both admired and been inspired by her for a long time. this piece in particular is just one example of how emilie is able to create something that is not just ‘jewelry’ but a truly meaningful and profound piece of art.

you can find emilie and her work here and here.

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when was the last time you fell asleep easily? just last night! i'm grateful that my tiredness usually directly correlates to my ability to fall asleep

what makes your home feel like your home? home to me is a feeling that lives in many things. there are people and places that it lives in constantly, like my family and loved ones, or my studio and the ability to create. i've also been discovering that it can also live in unexpected moments or strangers. i got my nails done a few months ago and the lady doing my nails operated with a pushy, curious, loving, familial energy that reminded me of my extended family in taiwan and I loved it

what word do you find powerful or meaningful? yuanfen or 緣分. it can be translated as a 'fateful coincidence' and comparable to the concept of karma in buddhism. it's something my mom taught me when I was young, and its something i refer back to often to help me let go when things didn't go my way or when they don't go according to plan. i derive a lot of peace from the idea that what will be will be

when was the last time you felt bliss? i think there was a day last week that was just like any other work day, but i remember having a lot of clarity and feeling happy about it. i did my routine things like take nora on a walk, eat breakfast, work in studio, etc, but i felt engaged in what i was doing and not distracted with silly thoughts or my phone. it's definitely something that's become more difficult as more has been added to my plate, but i'm thankful for when i'm able to slow down enough to feel that

if you could say anything to anyone right now, what would it be? take care of yourself

what is something you wish younger you understood?

1. the time we have with our loved ones is never guaranteed; cherish it

2. stay in Chinese school. when you're older you will wish you could communicate more deeply with your grandparents

3. the things that make you feel isolated and lame will be the same things the most important people in your life will celebrate

what song plays inside your head when you’re feeling down? nothin compares 2 u - sinéad o'Connor, because if you're feeling down it might just be best to bask in it

the last stranger that made you smile: a person walking on the other side of the street with their dog who very much looked like their dog. one of my favorite things

when sadness makes its presence known, how do you greet it? i love listening to sad music and working in studio when i feel sad. this started happening in college out of necessity, so i'm not sure if this is something i just conditioned myself into liking, but now i find it rather cathartic

if you could go back in time, would you? if i could go back in time and be an invisible bystander, i'd love to go back in time to when my mom was my age (30). i’d love to learn more about her at that age, her way of talking, the way she dressed, her small mannerisms

what do you see from your favorite window? the window/sliding doors to the backyard in my childhood home in san jose. it pointed out onto an old deck and a picnic table that sat underneath a tree that shed tiny white blossoms during the spring. i find view very comforting because it's been there through various stages of my life

savor kindness because cruelty is always possible later, yes or no? yes

the pursuit of true love is never exhausting, yes or no? no

pain is a signal, yes or no? yes

if you could have one smell on your hands forever, what would it be and why? the smell of nora, my dog, after she's been laying in the sun

what is art? a representation of time and care

heartbreak or loss smells like: stomach acid

childhood smells like: sunwarmed tanbark

what did you hate most as a child? goodbyes

if you had a child, what would you want them to know? i'd want them to know the strong line of women they come from, and the unconditional love their grandparents, my parents, showed me

what did you learn from your grandmother? tenacity

what article of clothing feels most like you? i have a blue chore coat/work jacket that i found at a thrift store during my first trip to tokyo. its about mid-thigh length, a medium weight, and 100% cotton. it's nothing special, but the weight and the two big front pockets have made it a go-to for me throughout the almost ten years i've owned it. it's served many roles throughout the years!

what’s an act of humanity you witnessed that made you feel something? two strangers running after a dog that had gotten loose

what age do you never want to be again? 14 or 15, i remember feeling so self-conscious at that age

what color describes you? indigo blue

what color describes your first love? maybe a translucent magenta

what do you miss? i've been getting nostalgic over childhood! i miss the carefree, often boring, parts of being a kid

what is the most important thing life has taught you? trust your gut

what life do you hope parallel-life you is living? i hope parallel-life me has mastered multiple languages and is sipping sherry in spain

what is a miracle? i think coincidences are small miracles

what’s an object you possess that is precious to you? jewelry my mom and my aunt gave me

what do you feel is the most loving thing you’ve done for someone else? taken care of a family member when they were ill

what was the last wish you made? ah! i can't recall the last time i made a wish actually

how do you know when you are in love? i think the answer is different depending on what stage of love you're in, but i think maybe the first indicator is when you're content doing very little with them, or when you're even happy doing a menial task with them

what do you find very overrated, in general? self-centeredness

what dish would you make for someone you care for? soup or stew of some sort

how do you celebrate your birthday? i'm definitely a small celebration kind of girl. my ideal is probably dinner with my partner, or a small dinner party with close friends. i don't love being the center of attention, but i love the excuse to get everyone together

biggest pet peeve: mosquito bites

what makes a perfect love song? you and me - penny & the quarters

if you could go back in time, what time would you revisit in your life? i think revisiting life around age 8 might be fun

finish this sentence: to be loved is __________: to be understood

when was the last time you laughed so hard your stomach ached? oof i'm not sure exactly, but i do remember cracking up the other night when i made lasagna with my friends molly and gen

what are your favorite kind of gifts to give? and to receive? i love to give and receive gifts made by hand! to me time is the most precious thing and i think seeing it immortalized in an object feels rather meaningful

what does your jewelry say about you? the jewelry i wear says that i’m sentimental and like to keep reminders of my family close

where do you go from here? on a walk to get a coffee. i am on a mission to get a wet cappuccino this morning.