Krystal M. Chuon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Krystal M., a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of running my small business, playing video games has been bringing me joy. I recently purchased a Steamdeck which has opened up a wider world of video games for me. My preferences are cozy games with an emphasis on storytelling and dynamic characters. The most recent game I finished was ‘Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’ which follows four friends who reunite after 27 years and confront a long-buried secret.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, my name is Krystal! I’m the owner of Mealea Collection, a small business centered on culturally inspiring wearable art, art prints, clothing, and more. I’m of Cambodian heritage and at the time of starting my business, there wasn’t much Cambodian wearable art aside from streetwear clothing. I felt motivated to do something different, to bring something entirely fresh to the table. My first products were earrings, digitally line drawn by me and then sent off to laser cutter machines to do the rest. At the moment, I didn’t think about whether my ideas would flop or how they’d be received by the online community. I just knew I wanted to try out this idea I had and make it happen.
This determination led me to add other products to my business over the years. Last year, I began practicing digital drawing (rather than just line art/vectors for my earring designs) which led me to selling art prints, t-shirts, notebooks, and more. I plan to continue perfecting my drawing skills and working on further adding new digital products to my shop later this year.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly, starting my small business taught me a lot about work! It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before. People don’t realize how much time business owners spend on NOT making products. We have to figure out how to properly track inventory, taxes, shipping, troubleshooting, responding to inquiries, and so on. It’s a lot of work and it can get stressful very quickly. At the end of the day, this is something I enjoy doing because it’s allowed me to be creative in ways I didn’t know were possible and has introduced me to so many amazing people all over the world.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there’s been multiple times I wanted to give up. I would start feeling that way when everything became too hard or when there was an issue I just couldn’t resolve in the way I wanted to. My business has become intertwined with my life, so I just can’t see myself giving it up completely. The great thing about being your own entrepreneur is that you can always take a step back and reassess. Other business owners encourage pivoting because it is a great way to start fresh without having to abandon everything they’ve already built up. By following this advice, I’ve been able to sustain my business thus far and don’t have feelings of giving up anymore.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
That would definitely be my Cambodian culture. There are so many traditions and practices that are sacred and valuable to the community. In this modern age, those traditions and practices can easily be appropriated and misinterpreted, even by folks from the community. In my work, when designing products, I typically take inspiration from general things like general cultural motifs, flowers, and ancient temple artwork. This way, I stay respectful of my culture and don’t risk commercializing something protected and sacred.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I would definitely say the former. I’ve always been a creative person since the moment I could pick up a crayon. My dream when I was younger was to be an author and illustrator – something I’ve been able to achieve in my adulthood (although not exactly as I imagined it then). No one really told me what I should do growing up aside from the usual like graduating high school, completing college, and getting a good job. I honestly didn’t know how my adulthood would look like. It was hard for me to pinpoint what I wanted to do in life and didn’t realize at the time, in my early 20s, that it would be pursuing art all along, just as I wanted to as a kid.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mealeacollection.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mealeacollection
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHtpPI7Al6OSWBYqC3SorAg
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