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Heights resident Danay Johnson is the founder of Khmer Designs, which
sells a variety of silk accessories handmade by residents of her native
Cambodian village of Kaoh Chen Leu.
Published: Saturday, October 13, 2012
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS -- Danay Johnson tears up when
discussing growing up in the eastern Cambodian province of Kampong Cham,
where, following her parents’ divorce, she had dutifully cared for her
four siblings since she was 16. Even after marrying and moving across
the globe to Cleveland Heights three years ago, she says she’ll never
forget the support she received from members of her village as she
fought to keep her family together.
Now an international business student at Cuyahoga County Community
College’s Metro Campus, Johnson, 32, has started Khmer Designs as a way
to repay that debt. The business sells silk accessories handmade by
residents of her remote native village of Kaoh Chen Leu during the region’s lengthy rainy season, with this much-needed income helping to defer living expenses back in her homeland.
“Without other people helping me, I wouldn’t be successful either,” Johnson said during a recent break from classes.
Johnson met her husband, Keith, an EMT, when he visited the hotel she
was managing in the Cambodian tourist destination of Siem Reap in 2007.
Subsequent visits followed, and the couple married in 2009, moving to
Cleveland Heights soon after.
Khmer Designs was launched a year later, and Johnson was accepted
into Tri-C’s ThRive student entrepreneur business incubator after
enrolling in 2011. The program offers work space, faculty mentors and
networking opportunities with local business leaders.
Johnson’s merchandise includes scarves, handbags, ties and wallets in
a variety of sizes, vibrant colors and styles. The business relies on
word-of-mouth – she’s made several on-campus sales – and Khmer Designs
products are also showcased at Galeria Questzal, 12400 Mayfield Road in
Cleveland’s Little Italy.
“My goal is to help support people in my village who can make these
products,” Johnson said. “I also want to share the unique Cambodian
culture with Tri-C students, faculty members and people in the
community.”
Despite starting at Tri-C as essentially an English as a second
language student, Johnson has excelled in her courses, earning
acceptance into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. A faithful attendee
of school-sponsored self-improvement workshops – she’s been
affectionately deemed the “Queen of Workshops” – she also finds time to
volunteer time to a extensive list of Northeast Ohio organizations,
including St. Malachi Catholic Church, Heights Arts and Little Sisters
of the Poor.
In recognition of these academic and extracurricular achievements,
Johnson was named Tri-C’s 2012 Student of the Year, an honor that comes
with a $2,000 scholarship.
“It means a lot,” she said of the award. “When I first came here, it
was a culture shock...But the community and the school have been so
supportive.”
Khmer Designs sales inquiries can be made by contacting Johnson at 440-241-8818.
See more Cleveland Heights news at cleveland.com/cleveland-heights.
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