Every so often, we come across a powerhouse designer who can both lead a brand and champion social causes. That is Angela Medlin, founder of House Dogge in 2017, a sustainable dog brand, and FAAS Design Collab, a professional development and design education platform whose mission is to prepare creatives for the fashion and apparel industry. She is a true leader who values diversity.

After 25+ years of designing and leading teams for Nike, Adidas, The North Face, Eddie Bauer, Levi Strauss, and Cross Colours leading and directing global design teams, Angela stepped into her true passions and goals to become an entrepreneur. That led her to founding House Dogge.

At House Dogge, Angela pairs passion for dogs and design, and is creating a brand with a fresh new perspective. “It’s all about the lifestyle of the dog and their human.” The multi-talented creative started with one simple toy, and from there the business grew. Over the last 4 years, the new brand has been featured in over 25 major publications, 3 worldwide TV features, over 10 podcasts, and multiple speaking engagements. In 2020, the lifestyle brand’s awareness exploded after being selected as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things’. The small Portland brand’s sales increased 3600% in just a few months.

House Dogge now offers an array of product assortments. Medlin keeps the aesthetic modern and minimal. Each product is designed prioritizing sustainability, comfort, and fun. The seasoned designer uses upcycled natural, colored fibers from the fashion industry as well as alternative eco friendly materials such as bamboo, wool, cotton, and more. She attributes her ingenuity and passion for purposeful design to 30 years of athletic and outdoor apparel design experience.

Throughout Angela’s career, she has not only lead design teams but also opened the doors for many who may not have had equal opportunities. Angela also is on the Leadership Advisory Board for Adidas S.E.E.D. School and Executive Leadership Council for NC State College of Design, as Chair for the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) committee.

Along with Angela’s leadership roles and amazing brand, House Dogge, she also started a nonprofit organization, FAAS Design Collab. At FAAS (Functional Apparel & Accessories Studio), Medlin is paving new paths for diversity in the apparel and accessory design industry. The 3-6 week design intensive program is considered a bridge between traditional design school and industry experience. FAAS is fast becoming a resource for companies to gain awareness of diverse talent for their open roles and positions. They offer comprehensive classes that are grounded in consumer insights.

The program prepares creatives to be ‘solutioneers’ in the product creation process adopted by renowned apparel brands around the world. The FAAS Apparel program partners with Pensole Footwear Academy six months out of the year to instruct best practices for both design disciplines. This ‘learn while doing’ program offers cross category team collaborations that aligns with ‘true to industry’ processes, 1-to-1 mentorship, real-time coaching, and corporate networking opportunities.

Angela strongly believes the future of innovation starts with diversity in design. Whether it’s FAAS Design Collab or a design position with her brand House Dogge, this is just the beginning of what’s possible for the future of currently, undiscovered creatives.

From inspiring people to achieve via FAAS Design Collab, to building a House Dogge assortment that solves problems and improves the quality of life for dogs and their people, Angela proves that you can have a successful brand while also making a positive impact on peoples lives.

Check out the video below to hear more about FAAS directly from founder, Angela Medlin: