CYKOCHIK

Hitting the big 1-0 has proven to be quite a milestone year for Cykochik and its founder, Nikki Duong Koenig. In its 10th year, the label known for its custom-made, eco-friendly vegan handbags raised more than $10,000 from a spring Kickstarter campaign. The results? A 10th anniversary collection designed by six artists from around the country, a new website, and additional venues carrying the Cykochik line.

And one more thing: Keonig, a Lake Highlands resident, was able to leave her full-time job as the creative director for a marketing agency to devote herself exclusively to the business of Cykochik.

“It actually means more work,” she says, laughing. “When you do what you love and pursue your passion, it doesn’t feel like work. I’m humbled by the amount of support we got from fans, friends and family.

“I wouldn’t have been able to make this leap on my own.”

Keonig was an SMU student when she launched Cykochik in 2003. The commitment to sustainable manufacturing was established from the beginning. Sourcing materials was (and is) a challenge, given that they must be both eco-friendly and animal-friendly, living up to Keonig’s belief that she and her collaborators can “express our individuality without harming others, animals or our planet in the process.”

The six artists contributing to the Artist Series 3 were given Cykochik’s anniversary as their inspiration for the collection, with each designing a tote bag, laptop sleeve and clutch. The pieces (starting at $110) are available at cykochik.com. Other readymade pieces can be purchased at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary in Uptown and the Gallery at Midtown, a gallery/studio space housed within Valley View Center.

Select Cykochik accessories also are available at various events hosted by the company throughout the year, or artsy gatherings such as the annual Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash. For custom creations, get started at the website or Cykochik Facebook page. (Expect a turnaround time of about two to three weeks.) Keonig also encourages Cykochik fans to sign up for the newsletter list to receive updates and exclusive offers.

Even as Cykochik expands, its founder and her husband, Marek, remain rooted in Dallas, where both have strong family ties. Keonig wasn’t born here, but considers herself at heart to be a Dallasite and native Texan.

“I grew up here, went to SMU, went to New York and then came back,” she says, adding that the arts culture in Dallas is “improving and growing. It’s really exciting to be part of this transition.”

Ten years in, what does Koenig envision for the future of Cykochik? Ideas are plentiful: more bags, shapes, accessories, international collaborations. Expanding beyond handbags, into apparel, say, or home decor, is among the possibilities.

“There are so many things I want to do,” she says, with Cykochik having the potential to grow into a “compassionate lifestyle brand, involving artists and artisans from all around the world.”

—Pam Harris