A Conversation with Rebecca Gadd

If you know me – or even if we’ve met in passing on the street in my neighborhood – than you know how much I love dressing up my dog Henry. As much as I love Henry though, I’m not sure I could make a career of creating premium dogwear. Luckily, Rebecca Gadd has done the hard work for those of us dog moms who are a little too obsessed with finding the perfect fit for our pups.

I mean, Henry is stinking adorable, right?

Rebecca lives in Clackamas, Oregon (near Portland), where she’s the president of Gold Paw Series, a premium dogwear company dedicated to improving the lives of dogs (and cats!) and their owners. I’ve dressed Henry in Gold Paw fleece and he absolutely loves it (he seems significantly more content in the cozy fleece than in his taco Halloween costume, I just can’t imagine why that is….). 

Gold Paw Series is a family-run dogwear company dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and their owners with thoughtful, practical solutions to everyday problems. All of their products are proudly sewn in the USA and many of their materials are milled here too. With a passion for reducing their environmental impact and a family legacy of over 20 years making dogwear,  Gold Paw Series is completely dedicated to making pups as comfy as possible while also looking their best.

Read on to learn more about Rebecca’s story, in her own words.

What was your first job out of college?

I was a head seamstress for a custom womenswear company. I loved the craft of it but I didn’t love the monotony.

What led you to your role at Gold Paw Series?

My mom had a dog shirt product that she wasn’t really doing much [to market or sell]. I had learned a lot about sourcing and scaling up production, as well as marketing and brand management [while earning] my apparel design degree. I thought it looked like something I could make something of (sic). [The business] wasn’t borne out of passion so much as opportunity.

How do you start each day? Describe your morning routine.

I get up at about six a.m. with my five-year old daughter and our labrador, Luke. I make her a sunflower butter-banana-honey sandwich every morning while I wait for the kettle to boil and then I start an insane, but delicious, coffee making routine involving weighing coffee and wetting filters, the whole nine yards. Then I bring a cup of coffee to my husband and we take off. I drop Marta off at school, and Luke and I head into the office.

What does your typical work day look like?

It’s different everyday. We cycle through different projects, so it might be working on the new catalog, choosing fabrics or colors for the next season, bookkeeping…you name it. I’m also certainly not above packing orders or sewing missing stock.

What is your favorite meal to eat for lunch?

I’m happy eating leftovers because it meant a.) we pulled off cooking dinner; b.) We had the foresight to make enough for leftovers and c.) it was good enough to eat again. So, if I’m eating leftovers, I’m doing it with a little bit of pride in my heart. Small victories, right?

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

I’m a shy person and I don’t like to ask for things, so the best advice I ever got is: “the easiest money you’ll ever make is the money you talk for.” It gives me a courage to cold call potential accounts and to negotiate.

What is your favorite thing to cook or bake for guests?

At the moment I’m obsessed with Ottolenghi (a little late to the party I know) and in particular his fennel-pear-pecorino-caraway salad. It’s such an unusual mix of flavors that make magic together.

What is your favorite restaurant in Portland and why?

I love Castagna here in Portland. It offers a world class level of artistry and creativity. While Portland is known for it’s food scene, it’s still a small city.

It’s 5:00 p.m. on a Friday. What’s in your glass?

A sour belgian-type beer or Blanton’s bourbon on the rocks.

If you could hop on a plane and go anywhere right now, where would you go and why?

I’d go to Sweden, then take a train, rent a car and drive into the middle-of-nowhere Sweden to Fäviken. I’d love to see and experience someone creating their own immersive world, which Magnus Nilsson is doing there. I love the passion.