Wu says she has never seen someone carrying one of her bags, but she says friends have reported sightings in Times Square and in the SoHo district in lower Manhattan.
"We were all very impressed by how she created her handbag line and was able on her own to get orders and so much press," says Suzanne Piazza, who taught Wu in a Parsons merchandising class last fall.
"Mengdi is a very smart and creative student who is self-motivated," the teacher says. "She was an inspiration to the entire class."
Wu includes Piazza among a long list of mentors, she says, who have helped her strengthen her brand and have encouraged her in her business.
"My mom is very excited and supportive, but my dad wants to keep me humble and not brag about myself," Wu says. "I think there's a good balance between the two."
Wu wants her designs to maintain personal connections with her target market and to create functional bags attuned to the necessities of a young woman's daily life.
Perhaps the most important part of her design, she says, is the fun factor.
As Wu writes on mengdi3wu.com, "We want our cute handbags (to) brighten up your day, and let you feel cuter than ever."
Public letter calls for gay marriage legislation