One to Watch: Andrea Wong

Vancouver accessories designer, Andrea Wong, crafts beautiful bags to weather West Coast storms.

Andrea Wong's collection of minimalist bags may be beautiful, but they€™re also stylish examples of craftsmanship and thoughtful functionality. €œI like to create items that complement your life, to create something that sort of simplifies everyday life and organizes you a bit more,€ says the Vancouver-based designer.

Though intended for use in urban environments, her lunch and tote bags are derived from materials that withstand coastal weather conditions, making use of waxed canvases and oil-tanned leathers for maximum durability. It's a nod to her love for the West Coast, where the city and wilderness so seamlessly coexist.

Her Pender bag, named after both the Chinatown street and one of the Gulf Islands, highlights her skill for fashionable pieces with a practical edge. Here, a pocket rests on the lower-back area of the outside of the bag€”spacious enough for large phones, but also accessible without having to take the bag off. And the satchel easily transforms from a cross-body bucket bag into classic backpack: ideal for city dwellers and island exploring alike.