Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Konner.
Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I love sharing the story of my name. Konner doesn’t belong to my father or my ex-husband – it is my name by design. Conner is Scottish for “dog lover”, the modern version of “wolf lover”. I turned the ‘C’ to ‘K’ for alliteration.
Besides spoiling my pets, I spend my time:
1. As a branding + packaging designer – Creatively & Co
2. Acrylic portrait painter – Modern Wolf Lover
3. Dogwear designer – Fetching Dogwear
4. Celebrating the Lowcountry – Sweetgrass Time
5. Updating my old house
6. Writing about modern relationshipping – Medium
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Struggles? I’ve done everything the hard way by recreating the wheel with every pursuit and doing everything myself. I’m now able to see how my idealism and lack of confidence prevented my growth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Launching my two businesses are achievements I’m most proud of as I single-handedly developed the brands and the products. My belief was, “I’ll give this everything I’ve got so that if it doesn’t make it, I’ll know I did everything I could”. I didn’t know that this is exactly why I was struggling. I had no idea that by doing it all by myself, I was failing at running the business while at the same time undercharging for my products.
I’m a graphic designer professionally. I create brands, packaging, and websites with personality. I am also a pet portrait artist which has gotten some attention. I’m working, slowly, on a long-held dream of being a writer, as well.
I decided to make a pair of dog pajamas for my greyhound. That pair of pajamas was followed by a winter jacket, rain slicker, collars, then leashes. I began receiving requests from other pet parents wanting dog coats for their dogs. When I launched Fetching Dogwear I was not a skilled sewer but became fixated and obsessed with the craft. If a stitch wasn’t perfect, I’d take it apart and start over. I developed my own size system and sewing patterns. Soon half my business was going to Japan and Singapore whose buyers appreciate quality and are willing to pay a premium price. I’ve been making custom designer dogwear ever since.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My interests and passions are vast. I love to create. I love to observe. I especially love dogs. I love adventure. I love children though I’m childless by choice. I love to try new things. I love books and learning. I love connecting. I take care of myself, the earth, and those within my reach. What I don’t do is just as important. I don’t enjoy mainstream entertainment, i.e., television, politics, religion, sports, news, radio, or shopping. I intentionally live under a huge rock that keeps me away from the fear and panic-inciting media.
Pricing:
- Martingale Collars $34.99
- Rain Slickers $136.99
- Fall Jacket $84.99
- Snood Coat $112.99
Contact Info:
- Website: etsy.com/shop/fetchingdogwear
- Instagram: @fetchingdogwear
