Friends of Sunroom: Aliza Tran
Friends of Sunroom celebrates people whose taste, passion, and way of moving through the world we genuinely love. No agenda, just good people being fully themselves :)
Meet our very own (!!) Aliza Tran: almost-ten-year Sunroom team member, gardener, apprentice shoe cobbler, and the person responding to many of the personal emails and styling questions you may have received from us over the years!
Aliza started as our e-commerce intern the summer before her senior year at UT Austin, and since then, she's worn just about every hat we have, from photoshoots and buying to logistics, mural painting, and tending to our shop plants.
Through it all, she's kept a rare eye for how things are made, whether it's a handwoven caftan or the 30-plus tomato plants she grew this spring. We're always learning something from Aliza, so we sat down to talk personal uniforms, modern heirlooms, her favorite designers, and what she's taking home this fall.
How long have you been orbiting the Sunroom world, and can you share more of how your role has evolved?
I started as an e-commerce intern the summer before my senior year at UT Austin. I’m now approaching my ten-year anniversary, so you can imagine all the hats you might wear in a decade.
From photoshoots, to shop girl days, to content creation, to plant sourcing (+care), to mural rendering, to admin, to logistics, to website development, to buying, and I’m probably forgetting something.
In my internship, I packed every online order and signed all the thank you notes. Although I’m away from the fulfillment side (most days), I still field all client emails and style questions. A lot has changed, but a lot is the same.
What does a typical day in the life look like for you right now?
I start with an iced coffee and checking on my garden. I WFH, but will break up the screen time by stepping outside. I’m grateful to be distracted by our backyard ecosystem of deer, birds, foxes, and neighborhood cats. In my downtime, I’ll put hours towards my shoe cobbling apprenticeship.
What's your personal "uniform": the pieces you wear on repeat, the jewelry that doesn't come off.
The pieces that are consistent in my style are symbolic: Pin straight black hair like all the women in my family, a jade bangle to protect me from breaking my wrist (an old Eastern legend my grandpa would tell me), and gold jewelry with memories of each person closest to my heart. Then I finish this all off with fun shoes, kooky pants, or a wacky jacket. I love a signature look and I’m very sentimental.
What is your most treasured piece of clothing or jewelry and what's the story behind it?
My parents are Vietnamese immigrants and the first in their families to land in America. Modern heirlooms are special to me because I don’t have pieces that were passed down from my grandparents or great-grandparents, but I remember the pieces my parents bought when they felt proud and successful.
If I had to pick one, it’s either the Dezso Onyx Cowry Charm, which was the first piece of fine jewelry I purchased for myself. OR the ratty Guess Hoodie I stole from my dad as a teenager. I’ll never give it back!
If you could take home any pieces from the shop right now, what would they be?
1. Marrakshi Life Pigpen Shawl Hoodie: I will be living in this for fall and winter. Feels like the warmest hug.
2. Le Kasha Cashmere Norway Sweater: Tried & true for a reason! The length sits perfectly under a jacket, adding a little more depth to the layers in your outfit.
3. Marrakshi Life Joe Cool Denim Trouser: For the days you don’t want to get dressed, I would put these on. The shape has enough structure to make you feel instantly put together. Pair it with a tee or button up, just add a half tuck.
4. Rachel Comey Outerwear: Site Jacket and Christey Bomber -Two jackets, two different reasons. The Christey Bomber I would love to wear dressed up, maybe layered over something like the Rachel Comey Elara Dress.
The Site Jacket would become a part of the daily uniform. The navy base pairs easily with denim, while the cobalt blue details adds pops of fun, but aren’t too distracting for me.
5. Beck Tiger Eye Ancla Necklace: Wearable sunshine! If you could see this necklace in the sunlight, you would feel as enamored as I do. I love the depth of colors, the statement of it, and that you could easily dress it up or down.
6. Eres Dive Bikini Bottom: The best swim in the game. And there's a fun surprise in the back …
Beyond fashion, what are the things that keep you creatively anchored?
Cooking and creating meals from what I’ve grown in my garden. There are endless textures, pigments, flavors, and possibilities.
I grew over 30 tomato plants this spring. Beefmasters, yellow pears, black cherries, chocolate sprinkles, cherokee purples, and more. One of these species had natural stars where you pluck the stem. It’s the little things.
Quick Fire!
First thing you did this morning: Said good morning to my neighborhood deer.
My signature scent: Lucy influenced me! I’ve been layering the Cerato Fragrance Oils: Sweet Venus + Peace Root. There’s a woody and floral contrast with a bright citrus note.
An object I own that has zero practical value but it sparks joy: Mirror mask by Freddie Yauner
My style in 3 words: Fun, cozy, sentimental
Last Internet deep dive: Fat Bear Week Contest
Last text I sent: ”it’s buttery”
The soundtrack of this week has been: Bird calls. I just came back from Malibu and stayed right below where the infamous Malibu Parrots roost.
The color combination I'm loving right now: Red, green, gold
A trend I hope we can all move on from is: Faux plants. I get it, but I’m also a gardener.
