Sonia Smith-Kang: Early Reader Edition

Sonia Smith-KangPhoto courtesy of Sonia Smith-Kang

Sonia Smith-Kang is the creator of Mixed Up Clothing, a company that makes children’s clothing using fabric from all over the world. Sonia started the company to help children feel proud of where they come from, as well as to learn about different cultures.

Sonia has a very diverse family, which means they come from lots of different places. Her dad is African American, her mom is Mexican, and her husband is Korean. When Sonia had children, she wanted them to learn about all their families’ cultures by reading books and watching movies that included families like theirs. She found that lots of clothes companies didn’t include lots of other cultures, both in the clothes themselves and the models they used. So, Sonia started Mixed Up Clothing to create clothes that show different cultures and backgrounds.

When Sonia was little, her mom made clothes for her and her siblings. Then, when Sonia was in 7^th grade, she learned to sew at school. As a grown-up Sonia worked as a critical care nurse in a hospital, which was a very hard job. To help with the stress, Sonia started making clothes for her own children, just like her mom did for her.

When she started selling some of the clothes, people loved them! They would ask her, “Where is this fabric from?” or “Who made this?” Her clothes helped people learn about other parts of the world. Sonia says her clothes help teach people about kindness, diversity, and culture in a fun and friendly way.

When COVID-19 started, many places had to stop making clothes. People needed masks to stay safe, and Sonia saw a news story asking designers to help by sewing masks. Because she was a nurse, she knew how important the masks were and wanted to help.

She grabbed fabric, made a pattern, and sewed her first mask in just a few hours! Soon, she had made lots more. She even started a “buy one, donate one” program. Every time someone bought, Mixed Up Clothing donated one to a person in need like farm workers and Native American groups.

Photo courtesy of Sonia Smith-KangMixed Up Clothing masks

Sonia doesn’t have to work alone at Mixed Up Clothing. She has four children, and they all help by folding clothes, packing orders, and carrying supplies. Sonia says it was her grandparents who inspired her. Her grandma was one of the first Black female police officers in New York City, and her other grandparents were some of the first people to open a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. The fact they followed their dreams helped Sonia to see that she could follow hers too.

Photo courtesy of Sonia Smith-KangSonia Smith-Kang with her family

Through Mixed Up Clothing, Sonia hopes children can feel proud of their cultures and learn about others. Some of her clothes even have special messages. Some shirts say “Black Lives Matter” in lots of different languages, and others celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Sonia is proud of the way her clothing shares love, respect, and joy. She says, “There are so many different ways to celebrate who you are. The way Mixed Up Clothing is doing it is through sharing of culture.”