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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2018)
Page 6 October 3, 2018 Minority & Small Business Week Designer Turns Skills into Business Driven by passion and finding a niche D anny p eterson t he p ortlanD o bserver Angela Medlin, a seasoned African-American female de- signer with more than 25 years experience working for big- name companies like Nike, Adidas, Levi Strauss, Eddie Bauer and Northface, has trans- formed her skill set to support a passion for entrepreneurship by launching two companies— one to feature indoor dog ac- cessories from the home mar- ket and another to teach young designers of color how to break into the design industry. Medlin, 50, told the Portland Observer that her pet accesso- ry brand, called House Dogge, was started after she left her own design director position at Nike back in 2016. Her Func- tional Apparel and Accessories Studios is an educational pro- gram which partners with two other design labs, MLAB and by Pensol Footwear Academy, and other former design directors at Nike, to create a six month pro- gram at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Taking inspiration from product designs across the globe, House Dogge was in- spired by the kind of purposeful and sustainable products she’d seen while traveling around the world, in places like Japan. After collecting products for pets and putting them on a wall in her home, she wasn’t quite sure where the business was headed. But soon she discov- ered a niche in the market for consumers who want dog toys that were actually fashionable within the home. “I want to do something that’s really personal to me and close to my lifestyle. And so what I did. I started looking at dogs who live indoors and how people live with dogs. And I re- alized that that’s not being ad- dressed in the industry in that pet brand industry so much,” Mendlin said. Mendlin realized that stylish dog toys that didn’t sully the Web: www.sunlanlighting.com • E-mail: kay@lightlady.com 3901 N. Mississippi Ave. • Portland, OR 97227 503.281.0453 • Fax 503.281.3408 photo Courtesy s Choolhouse e leCtriC C o Portland-based designer Angela Medlin creates big-brand apparel for companies like Nike and Adidas. The long time entrepreneur has launched two companies over her long career, one is specializing on getting more diversity in the design field and the other an upscale retail company selling dog accessories. feng shui of their occupying made of leather and wool. growth. Just a few weeks ago, The company also supports house interior was a product Mendlin attended her first trade that she herself would want to the Pongo Fund, which pro- show in New York City, spon- buy and decided to take a crack vides quality food and vital sored by the city’s economic at creating and selling them veterinary care for the family development agency Prosper pets of anyone in need. herself. Portland. Mendlin was “heartbroken” She’s enjoying an ever-ex- Reflecting back on her ca- panding number of retail- when herOlde English Bull- reer, Mendlin said being an ers who sell her accessories, dogge, Wubbi, who is still the entrepreneur was a natural next which include sustainable and face of the company on its step. non-toxic products like vegeta- website, sadly passed away “My work was never 9 to just a couple months ago. ble tanned leather tug toys, an 5, but you know, I can nev- Still, her canine friend would origami-inspired leather waste C ontinueD on p age 8 bag pouch, and a comfort leash be proud to see the company’s
