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Fun, Fashionable and Female

Michelle Maskaly//July 1, 2014//

Fun, Fashionable and Female

Michelle Maskaly //July 1, 2014//

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We recently sat down with Kristy Hinze Clark, the founder of Legitimutt, to talk about where she gets her inspiration from and how being a supermodel has helped her prepare for the business world.

Michelle:  Tell me about Legitimutt.

Kristy: Legitimutt is a modern designer dog apparel brand that is made in America. We use the highest quality fabrics and design to assure a great fit for any dog.

I came up with the concept for Legitimutt when I was pregnant with my first child. I have three dogs, which my husband and I call our kids. While trying to shop for them for the winters in NYC, I noticed a serious gap in the market for well-made, American-made designer products.
With my many years in the fashion industry as a model, I decided to meld the two and start a more designer dog range.

Michelle: Much of your design inspiration comes straight from the runway. How does this make your brand stand out?

Kristy: We take trends that we see on the runway and implement them into our dog products. We have great looking, well-made products. Most of the fabrics I would wear myself.

I know that people’s pets really are more and more a part of their families and they want to make sure they are comfortable. However, people also want to appear fashionable, it is a huge part of who we are as individuals, and how we outfit our pets is a reflection of our taste.

Michelle: How has your experience as a supermodel helped you in the business world?

Kristy: I am not afraid of hard work, setbacks or criticism … I am open to change and ideas.

Michelle: Being a woman-owned business, what advice do you have for other women who want to start their own companies?

Nothing is more fulfilling than having a company and watching it grow. I have a great team behind Legitimutt that makes it work.
Be humble, honest and work hard, give credit where due and enjoy the challenges