Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sydney Pate. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sydney, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Starting my business Carl’s Closet Co was quite literally a dream. I woke up one morning after having a dream that I started a dog bandana business named after my Mini Schnauzer (Carl). Dog bandanas must have been top of mind when falling asleep the evening prior as I was so frustrated with the money I spent online on a flimsy, poorly made bandana I had purchased for my dog. After my negative experience shopping online and my dream to start my own brand, I thought what do I have to lose? A few days later I had ordered a sewing machine, fabrics and supplies and submitted my business LLC application with the state of North Carolina, and the rest is history!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hey ya’ll, I’m Sydney Pate- creator of Carl’s Closet Co. Founded in 2020, while many businesses were forced to close their doors, we were opening ours. I am originally from Saco, Maine and settled in the Carolinas in 2019. I come from an entrepreneurial family and am no stranger to putting in hard work, starting to work young at my family’s restaurant since I was in the 6th grade. As an adult, I worked several corporate jobs and found a disconnect between working hard and being valued. I decided it was time to ditch the big corporations and focus on a career that was a better reflection of who I am. I am a lover of pets, fashion and the arts, so it only made sense for me to become a stylist for dogs. With the moral support of my Mini Schnauzer Carl, I started my business sewing handcrafted dog bandanas. Based in Cornelius, North Carolina and we ship our handcrafted products nationwide! Our bandanas are unique because we don’t skimp out on material to make a bigger profit, we believe that adding an extra layer of fabric makes all the difference for pups of all activity levels and offers a more durable wear. Pet safety is our biggest passion, that’s why we feel strongly that your standard tie-on bandanas are an unsafe option as it can be easily removed or even eaten by your pup. Our pups deserve better, that’s why we create a slide-on style bandana. What is a slide-on bandana? A slide-on style bandana features a small sewn loop that your pups collar slides right over the bandana, creating a stylish look for your pup that they cannot be removed themselves. Since 2020 our brand has grown tremendously! You may catch us selling bandanas at Charlotte area pop-up events or at Tazzy & Boo (a pet boutique and groomer in Cornelius, NC). Creating quality bandanas for your pets has truly been a DREAM and we absoletely love seeing your pets showing off their style.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My cofounder is a 3 year old Mini Schnauzer named Carl. Although he isn’t able to physically make our products, Carl is there while I sew and he helps ship every order by walking to the mailbox. In early 2020 I was feeling isolated during lock down and had for many years wanted to add a smaller sized pup to my life. When I found Carl, I knew we were made to be best friends and that he would always be by my side to root me on when I needed it the most. He has been just that (and more) and is now the face of his own brand Carl’s Closet Co. You can always catch him wearing our latest style bandana!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When we began Carl’s Closet Co was really non-existent. I had no prior history or knowledge about sewing or the costs involved with this line of business. Before investing in this dream, I began by researching the costs of all of the supplies I would need to get started. Before jumping too far ahead of myself I decided to start with the minimum – a sewing machine, thread, needles and basic fabric. For about $200 I was able to get started and the rest is history!

Contact Info:

• Website: carlsclosetco.com
• Instagram: carls.closet.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlsClosetCo

Image Credits
Trish Dole Photography