Lily Kwong
Lily Kwong
Lily S. Kwong is a landscape designer, model, and fashion cross-pollinator. Her goal is to help brands become more eco-friendly. Lily Kwong is known for her massive floral installations.
Biography
Early Life & Education
Lily Kwong grew up in San Francisco. She recalls having a love for nature at an early age. She recalls starting her first nature club when she was in first grade. She would lead her friends into the woods to explore and be at one with nature. As a result, her family called her Scout.
She was also an athlete.
She played for a combined 10 months out of the year and played in softball and volleyball tournaments during her time off.
After graduating high school, Kwong attended Bard College. She eventually transferred to Columbia University, where she graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Studies. She also has a background in Economics and Sociology.
Career
Modeling
Lily Kwong became interested in modeling when she was 19 years old.
She was discovered by a modeling scout in 2007 while walking around the West Village. After her freshman year in college, she spent the next two years as a studio assistant and fit model. She traveled back and forth from New York City to Paris with her cousin, fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra.
Landscaping
Lily Kwong explaining her art installation of the High Line
A fellow Columbia University alumnus connected Kwong to the Island Planning Corporation.
She then became a Project Director for the LVMH Miami Design District.
While there, she honed her passion for plants while studying sustainable design with horticulturalists in South Florida and the New York Botanical Garden.
She now owns her own landscape design studio called Studio Lily Kwong (SLK).
She uses her passion for nature to create cultural experiences that harmonize people within a plant-based environment.
Some of her work includes a pop-up shop for an eco-minded fashion label in San Francisco and an eco-friendly, botanical-inspired capsule collection with Maiyet.
Awards & Accomplishments
Lily Wong was on Forbes 30 Under 30'Art & Style' list for 2018.
Personal Life
Kwong has family all over the world, including Australia, China, and Paris.
She enjoys traveling and doing yoga.