Meet Jennifer Demary | Seamstress & Animal Lover

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Demary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I don’t think I chose a creative career, I think it chose me! If someone would have told me that five years ago I would now be sewing for a living I would have laughed, I did not even know how to sew a button! My happy place was spending time with fur friends and my pet sitting business of over seventeen years provided that. Expanding into Kritter Couture happened unexpectedly and quickly forced me to step out of my comfort zone as a full time pet sitter to a full time seamstress almost overnight. My mother bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and on Valentines Day the following year my creative career was born. It takes so much hard work and dedication, but my pet product line has come so far these last four years and I’m excited to see what the future holds. I don’t know if I’d love to sew as much as I do if I wasn’t creating for fur friends, but what I do know is I am extremely proud to say that I am the creator and maker of Kritter Couture – Your Pets “Go To” for fashion and fun!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I don’t know what sets me apart from others because I try not to compare myself. For a long time, I never even saw me as an artist. I knew I had great ideas that I worked hard turning into fruition but never thought of it as a career choice. Being an artist is actually the only career choice I didn’t make yet the one I’m the most proud of. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely proud of what I’ve accomplished in my professional life so far. I was in corporate management at the age of 23, I’ve helped start and run hotels from the ground up, I’ve even started and to this day successfully run two of my own businesses but nothing fulfills me like creating does. My life path has been full of turns I’ve taken and turns taken for me. My successes were never easy but my drive and dedication to never give up allowed the countless challenges easier to navigate and overcome. I learned that the harder the work the greater the satisfaction and triumph I feel in myself. I was raised to believe that where there’s a will there’s a way so anytime I think to give up or give in I ask myself how strong is my will? My genuine love for animals and my will to create has made Kritter Couture what it is today. Four years ago when it came to pet fashion like collars, harnesses, leashes, and especially bandannas the options were limited and the sizing was even worse. Today, my hand made pet line carries over 400 fabric choices, offers several sizes for custom fits, is the originator of the reversible snap on scarf and I’ve only just begun.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh gosh, this is a hard one as I love Atlanta and there are so many cool places to see and explore. I consider myself an outdoor person and a foodie so we’d probably start with the Centennial Olympic Park because I can bring my dogs and explore the acres upon acres of fun including the Fountain of Rings. We’d also hit the hiking trails and dog parks like Piedmont Dog Park to work up an appetite to eat at spots like the SluttyVegan ATL or Soul Vegetarian…did I mention Cinnaholic?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so fortunate to have a large support system in my life and wish I could name them all. My mom, partner, and family are the ones who play the biggest role in my story. I feel it’s the little ways that I’m motivated everyday to create and/or carry on. Like my mom always saying, there’s nothing you can’t do that you set your mind to or the group texts showing off new items and bouncing around ideas I’m thinking about. It’s my partner always doing the behind the scenes work like running to the fabric store or making deliveries, laughing with me through victories and picking me up through set backs. This daily support, love, and encouragement allows me to be authentic in my life and work. From a professional perspective I’d like to shout out my customers! It is the smiles, giggles, and even claps of excitement that I get from people who love Kritter Couture as much as I do that keeps me going.

Website: krittercouturenc.com

Instagram: @krittercouturenc

Facebook: @krittercouturenc