Our Story

Kling is a handbag company with deep beliefs in good. Being good to our bodies, our well being, our health and psyche. Outside of the graphic influenced designs and the luxurious feel or our bags is a deeper story, one that I want to share with you because it’s Kling’s dedication and personal responsibility to our customers and the industry.

I’m Natasha Kimling Kwan, the owner and designer of Kling. I’m married, have two amazing cats and one pretty cool dog, devout vegetarian of 25 years, athlete, wellness junkie and lover of clean modern design. I started Kling several years ago as a small DIY company. The first bags were made out of duct tape, the designs were graphic focused and everything was handmade. Kling was a success for what it was—a small DIY company selling to local and regional indie craft sales.

In 2006, I knew the duct-tape fad would soon end and to tell you the truth, the adhesive had taken a toll on my skin. I wanted to create a more luxurious product with the same design aspects of the original line. I decided that I would start making my bags out of leather. I purchased a few half hides and remnants and had a difficult time finding a factory. This entire time, I was not really feeling 100% comfortable with using this new medium, but I would not compromise my brand by using vinyl or another faux leather.

After having dinner with a close friend, I was convinced to just take a look at some leather alternatives. I began my search and within an hour I had found what I needed all along—a new fabric and a lot of facts about leather and PVC that I was oblivious to. Now, I’m not here to lecture or scare you silly, but I do feel it’s my responsibility to share information. The first thing that shocked me, even though it’s common sense if you open your mind to it, is that leather is skin. It’s supposed to degrade, breakdown, mold, etc. I somehow failed to make that obvious connection; oops. The tanning process is a toxic process. It’s toxic to tanners, those that wear leather and tanning pollutes the environment and contaminates our water. When I found out tanning chemicals were found in women’s breast tissue, I knew I could not design, manufacture or sell leather products. How could I be happy about providing something that could potentially harm another human being?

A few other points that I learned is that tanning isn’t the only bad thing, but PVC / vinyl (it’s the same thing if you didn’t know) is very hazardous. It contains phthalates that have been recently proven to disrupt hormones among other things. Hormones control more than your reproductive organs; they control your immune system, your growth, your metabolism and a whole lot more. This is why you will see new products saying “PVC free”. Aside from health hazards, PVC is horrible on the environment. It contains plasticizers, heavy metals and other toxins that eventually seep into our soil and water.

My decision to use a polyurethane based fabric was the easiest decision to make. The fabric that I use to make Kling bags feels like lambskin. I should tell you about the first time I saw a real lambskin so I will.

I was in a leather shop and saw this gorgeous silver remnant so I thought. I unrolled it and it was maybe 1.5’ wide x 2.5’ high. It looked like a full hide, but I asked the clerk what it was because I had never felt leather so soft and I knew it wasn’t Italian leather because of how thin it was. When he told me it was lambskin it didn’t sink in for the first 10 seconds that this was the entire skin of a little baby lamb. When I realized what I was holding, I was sick to my stomach. I told the clerk that it was disgusting and he just laughed at me. Thank God I don’t have to go through that again!

Okay, back to nice, guilt-free Kling talk. Our bags really do feel like lambskin and some of the finest leathers available. In addition to how they feel there are no plasticizers, heavy metals, formaldehyde or pyroxylin in the fabric. When compared to leather, our bags are more durable too. They’re more resistant to temperature, and do not stiffen or crack. They are also scratch, nick and blemish resistant. When you think there can’t be more, there is. You don’t even have to treat our bags with potentially toxic products to resist stains. Have you ever purchased a luxury handbag that you had to put leather protector on? I have, you shouldn’t have to worry about a single rain drop ruining your new purchase.

All of our bags are made in New York. It’s important that our manufacturing stays here in the States. Kling could save a lot of money by going overseas, but I couldn’t feel good knowing that someone is getting paid $10 a week or possibly less so I can make a larger profit. Each bag is made by hand by a sewing professional. It’s important to remember how hands-on everything in the world is. Not everything is machine made or automated. Someone put the twisty tie on your bread, Someone tested the electrical plug on the lamp that’s in your living room. Please remember that there is a human connection in almost everything. 

And I’ll leave you with this. Our largest organ is our skin. From fashion to skin care to the shampoo you use, please remember, what is on you is in you.

Hugs and Kisses,

Natasha

Askinosie Chocolate
Beauty Truth
PVC Facts