Q&A CYKOCHIK’S NIKKI DUONG KOENIG

By CHRISTINA HUGHES BABB

The Cykochik line showcases bold, beautiful, sleek style that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Neighborhood-rooted, it’s globally inspired, bullish as a business, compassionate in every component and boasts beaucoup collaborators and fans. The same can be said for Cykochik founder Nikki Duong Koenig, whose aerodynamic coiffure and polished, color-punctuated wardrobe speaks to fashion lovers. (“Trust me, you want every product I produce,” her personal aesthetics assure.) Behind her relaxed, inviting smile and manner, her mind blooms ideas at breakneck pace. A Vietnamese refugee at age 3, Koenig was an undergrad when she launched Cykochik Custom Handbags. It is more than a corporation, she believes. It’s part of a mission to make the world a better place. Sound idealistic? Take a moment; hear her out. She might make you a believer.

How did childhood experiences affect your level of social awareness, creativity and energy?

I was born in South Vietnam and my parents fled, as political refugees, when I was 3. We were what they called “boat people.” We were detained in Thailand, which is where we lived three years in refugee camps before we were accepted to immigrate to the United States. Since childhood, maybe it was the Buddhist influence, I have had a passion for art, animals, social justice and the environment, and that has grown into my desire to create a more sustainable and happy world for all living beings. I grew up in the Dallas area, studied advertising and art at Southern Methodist University, and in 2003, in my dorm room, I created Cykochik Custom Handbags. After graduation, I moved to Manhattan to work as a commercial art director. After four years, I moved back to Dallas [Lake Highlands] to

BY RASY RAN

be closer to my boyfriend [now husband] and my family.

Did you imagine Cykochik would grow into such an enterprise?

I had no intentions of making it the venture it is today. I was making art, expressing myself through handbags and fashion. But, still, while working fulltime at global advertising agencies, and attending the Fashion Institute of Technology part time, I kept working on it. Cykochik became a business very slowly, over a decade. I had no official business education, so I’ve had to learn on the job for the past 14 years. As an entrepreneur, I have to wear many hats at the same time. I now have help with the non-creative aspects of the business so that I can focus on design and development. For me, it officially became a fulltime business in 2013, when I successfully crowdfunded more than $10,000 to launch the Artist Series 3 collection.

What is the Artist Series?

I knew a lot of artists, and I had a vision to turn Cykochik into a social, collaborative community of artists, artisans and art patrons from around the world. So, for example, I chose six talented artists for Series 3 and each was tasked to design a tote bag, laptop sleeve and clutch. Then our Facebook fans voted on their favorite designs, which is how we still narrow down what we produce. Artists Series 4 features all women: Jody Pham, Patricia Rodriguez from Oak Cliff, and Michelle White. I usually work directly with the artists on the design or give them a theme. All of our collaborating artists receive 10 percent royalties for their designs.

And the Causes collections?

Those are our collections that benefit charities we believe are making the world a better place for people, animals and our planet.Wecollaborate and create exclusive handbags for them and donate a portion of the sales to their mission.

One big cause for you is veganism ... Veganism is a conscientious lifestyle that’s so important right now, to com- bat the human-caused illnesses, climate change, pollution, water scarcity, species extinctions, social conflicts and many global issues. Cykochik has been vegan, cruelty-free, sweatshop free, eco-friendly, made in America since the onset, before it was a trend. Our philosophy has always been, express individualism without harming others in the process. Every aspect of our business stems from that core value. I feel a responsibility to speak up for the environment and animals that are being abused in the fashion industry. I highly recommend the documentary “Cowspiracy” for more information regarding the environmental impact of our food choices.

How vegan friendly is Dallas?

Since I returned in 2009 I see a city that’s grown physically, economically and culturally. I love how vegan friendly Dallas is becoming, with all the new vegan restaurants, like V-Eats Modern Vegan at Trinity Groves, Nature’s Plate in Lake Highlands ... Also, the vegan business community is growing with new businesses like The Harvest Hands, V Market, Kat Mendenhall, and so many others that can be found at the annual Texas Veggie Fair in the fall.

How challenging is it to make a fashion product without using animal material?

It is harder and more expensive to source quality materials that are both animal-free and eco-friendly. And a challenge for us to find manufactures and partners to work with who share our philosophy, but it’s a blessing when we do find them. On the consumer side, we try hard to educate the market about the impact that fashion manufacturing has on people, animals, the environment. I am optimistic that consumers will become more vegan and eco-friendly and demand goods that are too.

Would you say this is a tough social climate right now for those with passions such as environmentalism, veganism, compassion?

The current political and social climate is actually strengthening our company and community in our shared causes. I feel a deeper sense of responsibility to advocate and speak up louder through Cykochik, because we have to be socially and politically active to create change.

What’s next?

I recently visited an ethnic minority tribe in the south central highlands of Vietnam, near where my family is from, to source some of their beautiful handwoven textiles for Cykochik’s next collection. I wanted to help these marginalized women by supporting them, their family and their traditional craft.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Accurate pricing from the beginning –The size and scope of your home renovation or new construction project will determine your need for a detailed set of drawings. These drawings serve as the instruction manual for project. The General Contractor will use them to communicate with each professional trade prior to construction to provide accurate pricing. Once pricing is received, the Project Designers can revise budget. The drawings will also be used during construction to ensure the job is built per your agreement.

Simultaneous processes & accelerated completion –Selection decisions made prior to the start of construction allow Project Designers to make design decisions based on actual dimensions. For example, if you decided you’d rather have a single refrigerator than a double, the Project Designer can made prior to construction start. Making these decisions simultaneously with the design process also helps to reduce schedule delays and allows for production and delivery for any long lead time items. Some items that need your consideration or selection during the design process are lighting, plumbing, kitchen appliances, and

Real time collaboration – construction, the Project Manager can walk over to the Project Designer’s desk and ask about the design intent. If your General solved by the Project Manager who may not have all the background information to clearly understand the design intent. save you time, money, and countless headaches!

Let us know!

Email us: info@bellavistacompany.com

10 STORIES AT THE LAKE?

The project that, miraculously, no one protested

By EMILY CHARRIER

Building anything near White Rock Lake can be a political minefield — where opinions run hot and consensus is notoriously hard to find.

C. C. Young seemed to break that curse.

The Vista, a new 10-story assisted living complex, is currently under construction. Unlike other lake-side developments, it’s a project that no one seemed to mind too much. That’s likely because of the nature of the nonprofit’s mission;

C. C. Young has supported the elderly since the operation first opened in 1922.

“Who would be against this project? Support for seniors is really important to us, especially nonprofit care,” says Carol Walters, an East Mockingbird neighbor for 22 years. “[C. C. Young has] been here forever and they’ve always been a good neighbor to us, so it was easy to get behind this.”

C. C. Young’s mission is so varied it’s almost hard to define, but it describes itself as a “continuous care facility for people age 55 and older.” Programs range from medical, like memory care and skilled nursing care, to more social, such as the myriad classes and activities offered to keep seniors busy every day, both those living in the facility and those who live in the neighborhood.

“About 95 percent of our programs are open to the public,” says Denise Aver-Phillips, vice president of community outreach and a bundle of energy who knows every resident by first name.

“We are always inviting people in to enjoy the campus.”

But the needs of seniors in our neigh- borhood are growing and changing, C. C. Young CEO Russell Crews says. More want to live independently and are eager to move in for the sense of community. Currently, medical care is spread across four buildings, but in 2013 the team had a vision to consolidate all of it into one space that could flex to the needs of the community. It would be easier on patients and staff to keep the high-touch services under one 10-story roof. The other buildings will be reallocated to independent living.

“This will allow us to be dynamic,” Crews says.

Flexibility makes good financial sense. Traditional units are defined as memory care or assisted living or skilled nursing, meaning facilities are limited to the number of beds they have for each. At The Vista, all beds will be approved for any level of care, so that rooms can be allocated as needed if the demand for memory care is higher than skilled nursing, for example.

“I think we’re the only ones in Texas who are doing this,” Crews says. “But I am guessing you’ll see it more in the future. It just makes sense.”

It also made sense to the neighbors, the plan commission and the city council, who all signed off on the 325,000-squarefoot project, which will be adjacent to the existing Blanton Assisted Living center. Its location, tucked into a hill with underground parking, means it won’t be too visible from the lake, although residents will have some breathtaking views. To build The Vista, C. C. Young secured a $130 million loan in the form of bond.

“It was the third largest tax-exempt bond issued in 2016 in Texas,” Crews says.

White Rock Lake neighbors Grant Warner and Josh Williams of D2 Architecture are overseeing the project with builder Hill & Wilkinson. Construction should be complete by summer 2018, at which point clients can start moving in. In all, the addition will up C. C. Young’s capacity from 474 to 730 residents, who will have added services in the form of a new gym and pool for physical therapy, a rehabilitation garden, a meditation chapel and more.

“It will allow more people to age in their own neighborhood,” Aver-Phillips says.

C. C. Young offers tons of free activities, from movie nights to art classes to Wii bowling — find them all at ccyoung.org/ lifestyle-dining/campus-activities-calendars/

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Designing Pollinator Gardens

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ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID …

Never the bride. That’s all right with Empress , a cool canine who’s quite content with human companions Requill and Derrich Phillips , who moved to Lake Highlands last year. Empress enjoys the dog days of summer playing fetch in the wildflowers and trouncing through tall grass, Requill says. But the boxer cleans up prettily and behaves as royalty when it’s wedding photo time.