IWD23 Keynote Speaker

Jessie Wong, Founder of luxury leader goods brand Yu Mei

Jessie Wong founded Yu Mei in 2015 in Dunedin, when she couldn’t find a design-conscious bag that fitted everything she needed for a day. Seven years later, Yu Mei has grown to a team of 18, and has over 37 stockists, including internationally renowned fashion destinations Farfetch, David Jones and Bergdorf Goodman.

Jessie was the winner of the 2021 Woman of Influence Award for Business Enterprise and travelled recently on the Prime Ministers Trade Mission to Australia.

With a focus on utilitarian and regenerative design, Yu Mei seeks to streamline systems of carrying for real people navigating the demands and complexities of modern life. With a permanent design studio and three well-established flagship stores in New Zealand, Yu Mei is now expanding into international territories, and has recently shown at both Australian and Paris Fashion Weeks.

Jessie is intent on championing regenerative design practices, with integrity at the core of Yu Mei’s supply chain. The materials used by Yu Mei are traceable down to farm level, and they are proud to be certified Toitu Carbon Net Zero. With a large network and community of successful fellow females, Wong is a woman in business with an impressive strategic outlook and vision for the future of regenerative leathercraft.

Celebrate International Women’s Day and #EmbraceEquity Join us for Breakfast at Parliament or register to watch the livestream event