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A woman from Norway has created a company that embroiders pet portraits onto sweatshirts. She calls her business "Northern Valley." hoodie factory
Maddy Starbird knows the distinctive relationship so many people have with their pets.
"I feel like everyone loves their pets," Starbird said.
Despite this, she said the idea to embroider pet portraits onto sweatshirts was pretty much happenstance.
"I had an extra sweatshirt that I really didn't know what to do with and I was just trying to think of just stuff to put on it. I was like, what better than my dog?" Starbird said.
From inside her home in Norway, Starbird launched the company and weaved in her own love for animals as well as creativity and drawing.
"I mean, that's my favorite part, drawing all of them. Then just putting them on a sweatshirt for them to have forever is a bonus," Starbird said.
First, a customer uploads a photograph on the Northern Valley website. From that photo, Starbird begins to draw and meticulously captures the pet's unique features.
"My beagle has two different colored ears so I love to kind of incorporate that to make sure you know it's your dog in the drawing," Starbird said.
After that, it's up to modern electronics to finish the job. The picture is sent to an automated embroidery machine which creates an image Starbird says will last as long as the sweatshirt does.
With her business already successful with sweatshirts, she plans to expand.
"A lot of people have been asking for blankets, and kind of personalized bags. There's a lot of stuff I can't wait to add," Starbird said.
Looking for your own pet portrait sweatshirt? Click here.
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