The ticking of the fire from the stove. Faint clacks as the knife hits the cutting board. With the cool breeze coming through the window, the two work tirelessly to fulfill their orders. The next rummages through their closet finding the right pieces. The packing and wrapping of boxes preparing to be shipped. Another works through the night, the quick clicks from the computer showcase her work. Planning and designing to best portray her ideas. They all share the energy and excitement of what they have created, pursuing an idea that has been waiting to blossom.
“I really enjoyed watching people cook and seeing them brighten others day from what they’re able to make,” said Tayven Nguyen, a senior at James Logan and co-owner of the local food business Schmack Attack, “I got inspired just by watching Youtube videos and shows of people cooking, from people like Gordon Ramsey to shows like America’s Test Kitchen.”
Nguyen’s joy of food was sparked at a young age.Growing up, he’s always enjoyed sharing his dishes with others. This led him to the creation of Schmack Attack along with his friend, Tarsun Moua. They have strong chemistry together and both had endeavors of selling food. This resulted in Schmack Attack, a food business that sells a different dish every time that they are open. “We do seasonal drops of food instead of where most businesses usually sell the same menu,” states Nguyen. They do this to give the public a wide variety of tastes and to always strive for creativity.
During their first drop, they sold various tacos and added their own twists to them. Of these varieties, they included a breakfast-style, their take on steak, and Vietnamese fusion. “Our goal of our business is to give people quality food to eat and make them smile, and of course make a little money, but at the end of the day, it’s something we just enjoy,” Nguyen said proudly. To see more of what they do and who they are follow them @schmackattackuc on Instagram.
“I have been wanting to sell clothes for a while now. Given the situation in the pandemic, it was hard for me to find a job,” said Lianna Soriano, a senior at James Logan and owner of the clothing store Salvage Vibes. Soriano started Salvage Vibes as a place where she could sell unworn clothing to her community at an affordable price. “The value of the clothing isn’t in the brand name or if it’s brand new, but rather it’s how you wear it. We focus on reselling, reusing, and repurposing.”
Salvage Vibes puts forth the idea that every piece of clothing should not be wasted and that someone will be able to utilize them in some way. Instead of clothes being hidden away in closets, they focus on sharing them with others and making sure that each piece is put to use. They also provide insight to customers on how to style certain pieces of clothing to ensure the value of each piece. “I do my best to give ideas to our customers on how to style and wear each piece throughout the year and not just wear them once or twice.”
Another big reason why she started her business is to shed some light on fast fashion. Fast fashion is a term coined for inexpensive clothing that is rapidly produced to follow along with the latest trends. The quick and mass production of clothing leads to harmful side effects on the environment, including that of pollution to the air and water. “Our goal is to slow down fast fashion by spreading our values of reusing, repurposing, and reinventing,” Soriano says. “I’m inspired by the thrifting concept since its main purpose is to slow down the waste of clothes, shoes, and other goods.” More information about this business can be found @salvagevibes on Instagram.
“My personal experience with having food allergies and anaphylaxis is what inspired me to start this business,” says Priscilla Joy, another senior at James Logan, owner of AAA or Allergy Anaphylaxis Awareness where she sells custom stickers in order to spread awareness about allergies. “I have noticed that life-threatening allergies are not a topic that is frequently addressed, and in some cases, lack seriousness when discussed,” she states.
Joy creates originally designed stickers that represent various allergies that people may have. Some stickers that she has made so far include that of eggs and nuts to represent the common allergies many people have to these foods. She strives to educate individuals about the seriousness of these allergies and how people should be aware of them. Along with donating to various organizations in order for people to be educated on the matter. “Throughout various social platforms, I try to include allergy-related facts, educational resources, and emergency procedures that I feel people should know about when in the presence of someone who has life-threatening allergies,” Joy advocates.
“Through this brand, I hope to show that allergies and anaphylaxis should be taken into great consideration. I am strongly passionate about bringing awareness to this particular cause because it relates to me personally,” said Joy. “I would love to see this brand reach a greater audience in the future so I could live out the full potential of AAA’s mission to raise awareness, support, and education,” To find out more about AAA and to support their cause follow them @allergystickers on Instagram.
