Although her Cropsticks — bamboo chopsticks with a built-in rest — failed to lure investors on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in April, Mylen Fe Yamamoto continues to pitch her simple and practical product to potential investors and restaurants.
The petite entrepreneur is always on the go, splitting her time between Oahu and Los Angeles. Husband Ron Tansingco is her business partner.
“Lately our weekends have consisted of meetings and strategy meetings with our other team members,” Yamamoto said. “At the end of a long day, my husband and I will watch a rerun of ‘Silicon Valley’ and laugh away any stresses of the day.”
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE
“Relaxed chic, lots of stripes and comfortable.”
PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF
“I absolutely need a cute backpack for all my belongings. Also, leggings and a loose top are ideal for airplanes. I love my slip-on boots because it’s important to wear shoes that don’t take forever to lace up so you get through the TSA (checkpoint) as fast as possible.”
MILLENNIAL STYLE
“Comfortable clothing doesn’t necessarily mean careless or sloppy, so wear what is comfortable while being mindful of what is appropriate for your profession. Beyond that, details go a long way for personal style. Some days I’ll go from moving boxes to a business meeting, so I find wearing trendy flats or sneakers helps keep your look tight.”
MUST-HAVE WORK ACCESSORIES
“My Cropsticks, of course! Plus business cards and a holder, a clean shirt and a positive attitude.”
DRESSING FOR THE ‘TANK’
“In the intro, my cyan/royal-blue dress was Tori Richard. I liked how it flowed and like to wear loose-fitting clothes, especially on relaxed days. In the ‘tank’ I wore a kimono I saw in Tokyo and had to have. But for negotiations I opted for a modern look, a striped dress from White House/Black Market. I love vertical stripes.”
PACKING PERSONAL-CARE PRODUCTS
“I’m in favor of traveling as lightly as possible, so in truth I don’t pack much. But my one exception is facial care products. I absolutely love SK-II, Cosme Decorte and face masks.
“Island Lookbook” is a weekly feature of the Star-Advertiser Sunday Magazine that spotlights local trendsetters. Email features@staradvertiser.com.