Indiana Lawyer Brings Fashion to Dogs

When Indiana lawyer Kori Chambers needed a hobby to help reduce her stress, and allow her to use her creativity, her dogs, Lily and Cooper, provided the answer! Chambers began making reversible dog bandanas that could be worn with their collars. What started as a fun pastime, quickly grew into a profitable small business. 

According to the U.S. Small Business Association, small businesses account for 44% of American economic activity. I interviewed Chambers and her black Labradors, Lily and Cooper, who are her inspiration and the namesake of her business, about her experiences going from courtrooms to canine clothes.

“When normal tie bandanas we’re not working out for my dogs, I thought, what is another way?” she said. Like many pet owners, Chambers enjoyed dressing Lily and Cooper up for the holidays or other special occasions, but traditional tie bandanas wouldn't stay put. So, Chambers taught herself how to sew and started making ones that could easily slide on and off over their collars.

Chambers began selling Lily and Cooper products online, registering her own domain (lilyandcooperllc.com) and building the website. She also sold at local farmers' markets and craft fairs. She sold so many that she needed to hire an employee to keep up with the demand. Beginning January 1, Lily and Cooper products will also be sold in a local retail store.

Beyond Business: When Help Brings Hope

Needing assistance, Chambers partnered with Exodus, an Indianapolis-based organization that works with refugees as they get settled in the United States. One of the goals of Exodus is to help refugees find employment, which can be a challenge with the language and cultural barriers.

“We don’t need to speak the same language for you to know how to sew a bandana,” Chambers explained. “Sewing is the same in every language you speak.” Chambers now employs a woman from Burma, who sews bandanas from her home. Her new hire now has stable employment and income, while allowing Chambers to increase the volume of her product and keep items in stock.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development stated that Indianapolis is home to the largest Burmese refugee community in the United States, consisting of approximately 24,000 as of 2020.

When asked for advice to young entrepreneurs, Chambers said "To go and try it. I never thought that something like dog bandanas would take off the way that it has. If you have a good idea and you like it, and your friends want it, a whole lot of other people probably want it too! Sometimes I think we think our ideas are not good enough, or maybe no one wants it. But I would say for any kids thinking about creating something, to try it! Because it really could succeed.”

Chambers is encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs, one dog bandana at a time.