Cover YeoMama Batik’s Desleen Yeo on bringing the homegrown brand to life alongside her mum
YeoMama Batik’s Desleen Yeo on bringing the homegrown brand to life alongside her mum
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In the first of our three-part Mother’s Day series spotlighting mother-daughter duos in business together, we speak to Desleen Yeo—founder of homegrown fashion and lifestyle brand YeoMama Batik
When Wenny Tan phoned her daughter Desleen Yeo while on vacation in Yogyakarta back in October 2017, they didn’t expect that a lighthearted conversation about beautiful batik fabrics would lead towards a business venture. While vacationing, Tan chanced upon these beautifully made fabrics and casually joked to Yeo about selling them in Singapore.
“I gave a very casual and unexcited ‘Okay, lor’ reply and started thinking of the brand name, logo design and website design,” Yeo recalls. Just three months later, YeoMama Batik was born. “We have not looked back since.”
Established in 2018, YeoMama Batik has carved a niche for itself, offering traditional batik with an effortlessly fun, colourful and refreshing twist.
Above Wenny Tan and Desleen Yeo
Wenny Tan and Desleen Yeo
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The duo remembers the early days of the brand being “really fun”. Back then, the mother and daughter pair found themselves slowly figuring things out along the way. The duo would bicker over the smallest details from the type of hangers to use down to the colour of the entrance carpet.
“Looking back, those little arguments were part of the charm. It was chaotic, yes, but also full of heart,” Yeo says, noting how these foundational moments shaped everything they’ve built today.
Their working relationship thrives on trust. “[Tan] has always placed a lot of trust in my decisions. She’s never been the type to say no without giving things a shot,” she explains. This freedom, coupled with unwavering support has been both comforting and empowering for the young entrepreneur.
She continues: “No matter what decision I make for the business, I know my family has my back. That’s made all the difference.”
For the duo, there was no hesitation when it came to working together. In fact, it made the business stronger. Yeo explains that her mum is the “adorable face of the brand”, with customers bringing their mothers to the YeoMama Batik store after spotting Tan on the brand’s Instagram page. “There’s just something joyful about seeing their eyes light up as they dress together in batik—it’s such a special connection,” Yeo muses.
Above Working together as mother and daughter made the business all the more stronger.
Working together as mother and daughter made the business all the more stronger.
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Beyond work, Tan is always looking out for Yeo, not just as a business partner but as a mother. During stressful periods, Yeo is always reminded by her mother to slow down and breathe. Her mum would also deliver home-cooked lunches to the office for her.
“At the end of the day, I know she’ll always want what’s best for me and the brand,” she says.
This year, Mother’s Day has a new meaning for Yeo. For one, she’s about to step into motherhood myself. “I’m starting to really understand why [my mum] did certain things—the decisions she made, the worries she had, the unconditional love that guided everything. It’s like a feeling of ‘I finally understand’,” she explains.
Below, Yeo reflects on her time working alongside her mum, the lessons learnt and more.
In case you missed it: Why Oniatta Effendi wants to revive the traditional art of batik
Above Yeo reflects on her time working alongside her mum, the lessons she’s learnt and more
Yeo reflects on her time working alongside her mum, the lessons she’s learnt and more
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Were there any doubts about mixing family and business?
Surprisingly, we never had much trouble mixing family and business. Conversations about work and personal life would just flow naturally over dinner at home. One minute we’d be talking about our personal lives, and the next, we’d be brainstorming new collection ideas.
My family was genuinely excited for me from the start, and their support has been everything. It never felt like we were “bringing work home”. It was just part of our daily lives, and somehow it all blended together seamlessly.
YeoMama has always placed a lot of trust in my decisions. She’s never been the type to say no without giving things a shot. It’s always been a “never try, never know” kind of approach—and that freedom, paired with her unwavering support, has been both comforting and empowering.
What strengths do each of you bring to the table?
If I had to sum up my strength, it would definitely be my creativity and an undying urge to try 1,001 new things. I’m always dreaming up new ideas, experimenting with concepts and pushing the boundaries of what batik can be. There's just something thrilling about creating something fresh and different.
YeoMama, on the other hand, has her own superpowers. She’s the heart of our people operations, the one who builds relationships with crafters and suppliers with her signature warmth and empathy. She just has this way of talking to people, with her cute tone and gentle mannerisms, that makes everyone feel at ease. And of course she’s always checking in on me, to make sure no matter how busy I was, I still have regular meal times. I must finish lunch by 2pm!
Above Established in 2018, YeoMama Batik offers stunning pieces that reimagines traditional batik with an effortlessly fun, colourful and refreshing twist
Established in 2018, YeoMama Batik offers stunning pieces that reimagines traditional batik with an effortlessly fun, colourful and refreshing twist
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How do your generational perspectives show up in the business?
If there’s one area where our generational perspectives show up, it’s in design—and even that has worked in our favour.
YeoMama has an innate understanding of what women her age want to wear. She knows their style preferences, their comfort needs, and even the little things like how some women feel self-conscious about the veins behind their knee pits or prefer to cover their arms. These are real concerns, and she makes sure we’re always designing with empathy and intention, creating flattering silhouettes that feel good to wear at any age.
As for me, I’ve always had full creative freedom. YeoMama trusted me to experiment and explore, and that trust has allowed me to grow creatively without fear of failure. I think that balance—her wisdom and grounding, paired with my creative vision—has become one of our biggest strengths.
Do you see this business as part of a family legacy?
I’ve never thought of what constitutes a family legacy or whether we are building a family legacy. But of course if my future kids are interested in taking over YeoMama Batik, why not!
Above Beyond work, Tan is always looking out for Yeo, not just as a business partner but as a mothe
Beyond work, Tan is always looking out for Yeo, not just as a business partner but as a mothe
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What have you learnt from each other while working together over the years?
If I had to name one of my biggest takeaways from this journey, it would be learning to communicate better. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s something I’ve become much more aware of, especially after working so closely with YeoMama.
Empathy is a huge thing I’ve learnt from her. I still remember moments where everything seemed to go wrong—the samples looked great, but somehow, something got messed up during production, and the entire batch came out with issues. I’d be stressed, upset, and ready to demand compensation from our crafters.
But YeoMama would step in and say, “Don’t force people to the edge”. She reminded me to look at the bigger picture: If the pieces were still wearable and could be sold at a lower profit, why not take that route? Would demanding a refund really solve anything?
We already know they’re living a tougher life than we are. If we can help them understand our standards and they grow from this, maybe we don’t need to be so quick to punish them for their mistakes.
That mindset changed the way I lead. We’re not just running a business. We’re building relationships, growing a community, and learning to lead with heart.
What is the best thing about working together?
The best thing about working together is to feel like we’re not working together! It’s just a natural, easy relationship where we don’t have to overthink or complicate things. We know the love and support are always there, no matter what.
Above For Yeo, the best thing about working together is to feel like they’re not working together
For Yeo, the best thing about working together is to feel like they’re not working together
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What does Mother’s Day mean to you now?
As I go through my first pregnancy, Mother’s Day has taken on a whole new meaning for me.
Growing a little life inside of me, it’s overwhelming in the most magical way. There’s already so much love in my heart for this baby, and all I want is to give them the best. And in feeling that, I find myself wondering if this is how YeoMama felt about us all along?
It’s a humbling thought and honestly, it’s brought with it a wave of gratitude and a little guilt too. For all the times I talked back, or didn’t fully understand her actions, or took her support for granted.
What is one word that describes each other as businesswomen?
Empathetic. Empathy is at the heart of everything we do, from how we design clothes that celebrate all body types, to how we work with our seamstresses, artisans, and customers.
As businesswomen, we’re always trying to put ourselves in others’ shoes, as we try to understand their needs, emotions, and experiences so we can build a brand that not only looks good, but feels good too. Whether it’s supporting our team, listening to our customers, or simply lifting each other up, empathy is what keeps our hearts aligned and our business grounded.
Credits
Images: YeoMama Batik and Desleen Yeo
Topics
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
