Meet The Yooushi Founder- Aya
Ever wondered who’s behind those adorable little backpacks?
Meet Aya, mom of two, founder by accident, dreamer by design, and the creative force behind Yooushi.
What started as a simple frustration turned into a mission to create something different. Something minimal. Thoughtful. Personal. A backpack that feels special before they even zip it open.
Yooushi isn’t just about backpacks.
It’s about that little gasp when a child sees their name on something that’s truly theirs.
Q: What inspired you to start Yooushi?
A: It all started when I struggled to find a backpack for my daughter that wasn’t covered in loud cartoons, or didn’t look like my husband’s gym bag.
I wanted something simple but special. Something beautiful, practical, and made to last.
So I decided to create one with three things in mind:
how it looks, how it works, and how well it holds up.
What started as one backpack for my daughter slowly grew into something now loved by families around the world.
Q: Where did the brand name "Yooushi" come from?
A: Yooushi was actually my nickname growing up, but to me, it’s so much more than that.
It takes me back to summers at my grandma’s house when my cousin and I used to pretend we had our own little store. I’d be the shop owner, and she was my loyal (and only) customer.
I still remember making a big cardboard sign that said “Yooushi,” cutting fake money out of old calendar pages, and using my grandma’s sewing machine as the cash register. I took my job very seriously, lol.
I was only eight, but I already knew I wanted to have my own business one day.
And here we are.
Sometimes I think about that little girl, and it feels surreal that something she made up for fun is now a real brand, in real homes, with real kids wearing it.
Now for some fun, get to know you questions!
Q: If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: Pasta. No hesitation. Any shape, any sauce. Preferably in Italy, but I won’t be picky.
Q: What’s something people don’t see behind the scenes?
A: The late nights. The overthinking. The triple-checking every tiny detail. And the fact that I still get nervous before every single launch.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
A: Getting a customer review with a photo of their little one wearing a Yooushi backpack with their name on it. That never gets old.
