40. Kathy Cheng

Redwood Classics Apparel (asi/81627)

2020 Rank: N/A

Title: Founder and President

Industry Experience: 11 years

Twenty years after taking the reins at her family’s domestic garment factory in Toronto, Kathy Cheng has become known across both promo and the wider business community for her ongoing commitment to Canadian-made apparel, sustainability and diversity/inclusion.

But nothing could have prepared Cheng for the challenges wrought by COVID just over a decade after launching Redwood Classics, the wholesale division of WS & Co. While 2020 was tumultuous, 2021 has been even worse, says Cheng. Although Redwood’s garments are assembled in Toronto and Cheng makes sure to have deep inventory of raw materials, she and her team haven’t been immune to the impact, which she says will last into next year.

“In 2020, as the entire world shut down, global markets were essentially on an even playing field,” she explains. “Now, with vaccinations available and markets opening up, demand has skyrocketed and it’s put immense pressure on the global supply chain. Countries are in different stages of reopening, so we now have delivery bottlenecks and staff shortages causing even more strain.”

But one bright spot amidst the uncertainty: it’s put Cheng’s dedication to sustainability into even crisper focus, as she doubled down on her long-standing commitment to domestic manufacturing, supplier diversity and the environment. In fact, Redwood issued its first Impact Report on its ongoing sustainability efforts.

Many have taken notice, as evidenced by Cheng being named to the 2014 class of Ernst & Young’s (EY) Entrepreneurial Winning Women program that provides resources for effective scaling at women-owned businesses (she also participated in EY’s Entrepreneurial Shift program for alums in 2020). More recently, she was recognized as the Canada LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Supplier Diversity Ambassador, and was honored as one of Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 100 for 2020 for her work in training a new generation of domestic manufacturers. Cheng has repaid in kind, as she and her team for the past seven months have recognized women in business as part of their #WomanOfTheWeek initiative on social media.

In the months and years to come, the Counselor 2016 Woman of Distinction says her firm will be unwavering in its commitment to garment production reshoring, the North American supply chain and “sustainable innovation.” Over the next year, Redwood is committed to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health & Well-Being, Gender Equality & Reduced Inequalities, Decent Work & Economic Growth and more. Cheng is also committed to leading her firm into the next phase of operation.

“Our industry has had to rewrite the rule book to survive in a strange new world,” says Cheng. “But we continue to support sustainability with our core philosophy of enduring quality and craftsmanship combined with sustainable innovation and a thriving North American apparel value chain.”