How did I get the idea of ​​founding Nani Dogwear and what exactly is behind it? I address these questions in this blog post.

The basic building block for Nani Dogwear is of course the story of Nani and me. But also a lot more.

The Beginning

Although I (Melina) was born in Cologne, I have spent a lot of time in tropical places since I was born. Even before my first birthday, my family spent a long holiday on my parents' favorite island, Sri Lanka, which was repeated every year. From an early age on I spent an average of 2 months a year in the tropics and have always loved exactly this environment: palm trees, wild beaches, exotic food and lots of beach dogs to pet.

I grew up with dogs from day 1 and have loved nothing more than spending time with them. Even on vacation, I've made friends with every dog ​​and always wished I could take them all home with me.

As a young student, I then began to travel the world independently - here too, of course, with a special focus on tropical destinations such as Bali, Costa Rica, the Philippines and much more. In 2015 Nani came into my life and my commitment to street dogs grew again by 200%. As a result, I have dealt more and more with topics such as animal and nature conservation and, among other things, changed my diet to vegan in 2016 (after 11 years as a vegetarian). In my everyday life in Germany, I tried to integrate more and more things that made me happy in the tropics: I cooked [vegan] dishes based on my travel destinations, furnished my apartment in a tropical style and my fashion style is also based on surfer vibes and the tropical design.

The Middle

After my studies I worked as a long-haul flight attendant for 3 years. That was the best solution for me at the time, because for various reasons I still had to live at home and thus had the opportunity to travel but also to earn money. At the same time, I was already self-employed in the field of social media marketing and photography, which I have been doing since I was 18 years old. It quickly became clear to me that the job as a flight attendant would not fulfill me in the long term and that I wanted to expand my independence. And then came Corona, the closure of the airline and thus my leap into full-time self-employment.

Being self-employed not only enabled me to have a job that fulfills me, but also that I can have Nani around me 24/7, flexibility and (after Corona) the freedom to travel whenever I want. But in 2021, I realized I was missing one thing job-wise: Something that is just my own - and it shouldn't be digital.

The Start of Nani Dogwear

In the fall of 2021, I started thinking about which product-based business would make sense for me. The main idea was that it should be something I'm passionate about, something that comes from one of things I stand by 100%. Another bikini brand? Hmm... no! Tropical clothing? Hmm.. also no! But what if...

Animals have always been my favorite thing in the world, but as I am a very clumsy person who is affected by every fate, a career in veterinary medicine or biology was unfortunately not laid out for me. But do something with animals? I've always wanted that! With photography, I can fill this space somewhat when I travel, but it was still missing in my everyday life. And then it came to my mind and I'll just write down what I said to my sister back then:

"Dogwear, but not just dogwear! I think there are a lot of cool dog products out there, but I can't really identify with any of the brands personally. I generally always buy things that remind me of the tropics, products that I know I'll keep and use for a long time: Why aren't there such key pieces for dogs too? What if I make products that combine my love for dogs with my passion for travel?"

Those were the first thoughts. I knew I wanted to create something cool and at the same time convey a feeling with my brand. The products should be stylish and practical at the same time - because what sense makes a nice accessory for us dog owners that is unusable very quickly or that just annoys the dog? When you think of Nani Dogwear, you should really feel the sun on your skin and see in your mind how the palm leaves are swaying in the wind and your own dog is romping in the waves.

The Developing Process

After I had worked out exactly what kind of products I wanted to make, I started to refine the idea. But it was immediately clear to me that I would like to develop a system that not only makes my charm collars beautiful and practical, but also allows them to be exchanged. A product line that is constantly expanding and gives dog mums and dads the freedom to design a piece of jewelry for their dog. But I wanted to make the collars myself and thus finish the entire product in Cologne.

Months of research and elaboration began and my best friend Carlotta spent ages with me at the table perfecting calculations. In January 2022 I was actually supposed to go to Bali to look for a suitable jewelery manufacturer - but unfortunately that was a failure, as the borders were closed again shortly before my departure. In May I started a new attempt and traveled to Bali, together with my designs and ideas in my luggage. 4 weeks later I left the island, after I had found my manufacturers and was able to get the project up and running.

The first product prototypes gradually came to me, large investments were made and endless tests and optimizations were carried out. The launch was actually planned for spring 2023, so in January 2023 I went to Bali again to photograph my collection. But before that there was chaos: My first bandana production was a total fail, my first Charm product batch arrived just 4 days before my departure for Bali and everything took much longer than planned. Luckily, the photo shoots went great and I was able to fully develop my creativity and breathe life into the visual presentation of my brand. During this business trip I also started working with dear Kim, my brand and web designer , who simply perfectly implemented my vision of Nani Dogwear.

In The Here & Now

I am writing this blog article shortly before the launch of Nani Dogwear. That means that until today everything and also nothing has happened. Because what comes after the launch is still in the stars.

Behind this small start-up is passion, a big dream, a lot of work, sweat, diligence and large investments out of my own pocket - and of course a small Bali Dog and a relatively tall blonde from Cologne. We'll see where the journey goes and how everything will develop. But I'm really excited to see as many dog friends as possible in Nani Dogwear, expand the product range and spread the feeling of sun, sand and palm trees in the world of dog parents.

Goals

Apart from the stylish look of Nani Dogwear, I really want to make a difference: I continue to travel the world and want to help animals that are less fortunate and support animal welfare organizations. Because only with enough castrations and vaccinations, we can jointly prevent further suffering in the world of dogs.