BagTrends: What is your design aesthetic?
Linda Wong: It’s clean and modern with a touch of whimsy in the details. I particularly like Danish furniture for the clean lines and contemporary feel. I love Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair.
BT: How has your Chinese upbringing and culture influenced your design aesthetic?
Linda: My Chinese upbringing has probably had more of an influence on my day-to-day life than my design aesthetic. I was the youngest of three in a traditional Chinese household and learned from an early age never to waste. Because I was often running around in my brother’s hand-me-downs, I was mistaken for a boy on a regular basis! The “waste-not” philosophy is definitely in my blood – I’m a big advocate of reusing and recycling as much as possible.
BT: Tell me about your nickname, “bag police”.
Linda: I’m lucky my friends put up with my nonsense! During my high school days in Taiwan, I would follow them to the cash register as they made their purchase and harass them with the question, “Do you really need that bag?” I don’t think I realized what a nuisance I was. These days I try to be more subtle in my approach...
BT: Did you always envision having an eco sound brand or did this recently come about?
Linda: I was always drawn to the idea of creating something of my own, but the actual product and concept didn’t take shape until the last few years. After working at Fila, I began to play with the idea of taking
my bag experience and creating something that reflected my personal belief and aesthetic. I knew that I did not want to make a “fast-fashion” kind of collection, but
 a well-crafted line that could be used
season after season.
BT: How did working at Fila and Cole Haan prepare you for launching
Canopy Verde?
Linda: My experiences at Fila and Cole Haan were instrumental to the launch of Canopy Verde. At Cole Haan, I was first introduced to the creative process that went into the making of each piece. I loved the visual and tactile aspects, from the mood boards to the textile library. Then at Fila, I had the opportunity to learn the real day-to-day execution—it helped me learn the nuts and bolts, or if you will, the straps and buttons, of the design, prototype, and production process. It was fascinating to see a rough sketch transformed into a finished product. After managing the accessories category for seven seasons, I felt ready to go out on my own.
BT: Do you ever feel daunted by the eco movement and those who say “this is eco” “that is not”?
Linda: From the beginning, it was very important to me that
Canopy Verde was an authentically earth-friendly brand. My approach was to be as thoughtful as possible about every component that went into
the bag – the fabric, leather, dyeing process, embroidery, lining, packaging etc. I think the eco movement is a very positive phenomenon and anything that companies do to improve their business practices is a great thing. For Canopy Verde, we will always be looking to make improvements with every season – after all, there are always ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint.
BT: You choose to work with local Chinese materials and labor. How has that impacted your brand?
Linda: Working with Chinese materials and labor is part of the story for me. My parents grew up in China, raised us in Taiwan, and still live there today. Given my Chinese roots, it was a very unique opportunity to be able to work with Chinese manufacturers and be a part of the growing eco-friendly market in China. The experience of sourcing in China has been very interesting – I wanted not only to work with a Chinese factory, but also to source all materials in China in order to reduce the transportation impact. It took a lot of time and energy scouring the market to find local sources of eco-friendly material and trims, but I think it was worth the effort. China is the world’s largest production hub and being able to work with manufacturers to encourage more responsible business practices will hopefully have a greater, long-term impact.
BT: What has been your biggest challenge with Canopy Verde?
Linda: When I started developing the
fall/winter 2008 line, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find high quality, eco-friendly materials in China. I had a lot of concerns. Were the suppliers certified? How high were the minimums? Could the fabrics be dyed in
bright colors and still be earth-friendly? There was definitely a lot of trial and error, but for the first season, we were able to develop relationships with certified local suppliers and produce the line we wanted without sacrificing quality.
BT: Fall 2008 was the premier season. Which was your
favorite handbag?
Linda: I love them all! But of course, I am biased…If I had to narrow it down to one or two, I would pick the juniper
tote in
chocolate – it’s a new take on a classic silhouette and has all the pockets one needs, from an outside magazine pocket to cell phone and iPhone pockets on the inside.
The black Dandelion is also a great everyday bag. It has a roomy interior that allows you to see everything inside the bag at a glance.
BT: What does Canopy Verde have in store for us come
Spring 2009?
Linda: We have some exciting colors that will be really fun for the season –
celery and
coral. The natural (off-white) color has also been re-introduced with new pop-color stitching in
coral and
turquoise. In addition, there will be two new styles – a foldover
clutch that is great for both day and night and a large, multi-purpose
tote that can be used as a beach bag, diaper bag, laptop bag, etc.
BT: What eco products/brands do you recommend?
Linda: I love Burt’s Bees and Aveda. Not only are the products natural, their packaging is also very responsible. Method is great for soaps and laundry detergent.
BT: What are your top 3
in-the-bag essentials?
Linda: Burt’s Bee’s lip balm,
Purell (to keep germs off my 2-month old baby!), and my black SIGG water bottle so I don’t have to buy any bottled water when I’m out.
BT: Complete the following:
Linda: Canopy Verde means... modern, earth-friendly design.
I would love to see... Natalie Portman,
Cameron Diaz, and Keri Russell wearing Canopy Verde.
My personal style is... utilitarian with a touch of whimsy.
The best part about Canopy Verde is... that you can carry a bag that is stylish, green, and affordable.
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