SPOTLIGHT
BORN ENTREPRENEUR Founder of Olive + Splash, Melanie Wong ‘12 was inspired to start her sustainable made-in-Canada clothing company when shopping for her nephews. By Mary Teresa Bitti
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hen In Touch caught up with Melanie Wong ‘12 Public Relations graduate, she was strolling the streets of Mykonos, Greece. The founder and owner of Olive + Splash, a sustainable athleisure wear brand based in Burlington, Ontario, loves to travel. “Travelling has taught me great lessons that I use in my life and in my business: problem solving, planning, and learning to trust yourself,“ says Melanie. “And it‘s a great inspiration for my company.“ Melanie designs each piece in her line of made-in-Canada bamboo clothing for children and adults. “Bamboo is not only great for the planet, but the more you wash it, the softer it feels,“ she says. Melanie launched her business in 2015, just as sustainable fashion was beginning to gain traction. (In 2018, the number of shoppers looking for ethically, environmentally responsible
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clothing jumped 47%, according to fashion search engine Lyst). She hit on the idea when she was shopping for her two young nephews and couldn‘t find the cool, sustainable, long-lasting clothes she wanted for them. So Melanie did what entrepreneurs do when they see a problem: she created the solution. The designs and colours are gender neutral making each piece easy to pass down. “We make adult style clothes for kids,“ says Melanie. It wasn‘t long before parents started asking her to make the designs in adult sizes. Olive + Splash apparel is now available online and in boutiques across Ontario, in Montreal and Vancouver. Melanie also promotes the brand with pop-up shops across Southern Ontario and through collaborations with other designers and brands, including Angela Price, wife of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, whose young daughter wears Olive + Splash. She also worked with Toronto designer Paul Ho on a custom cashmere wool coat.
