Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Veron.
Hi Annie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My journey to working in a creative field started when I found myself working in a financial office as a stockbroker and my head would always be elsewhere, doodling designs on my notepad in my spare time. I then realized I needed to make a change. That’s when I decided to go back to school and soon thereafter, I started working for an interior design firm. I have always had an early devotion to all things art and design. I am also an eclectic collector of art and novelties. I have continued to love and thrive in my current role at my interior design firm for the past 3 years and it has been an integral role in starting my new business, Western Lune.
I’m also an energetic dog mom. I currently have three dogs — two adorable 5-pound Pomeranians (Bean and Luna) and one small terrier mix (Otis). My new business, Western Lune really came to light last year. At the time, I only had one Pomeranian and my terrier mix. That’s when my mom suddenly passed away from cancer and I inherited her Pomeranian, Bean. Before then, I had always wanted to start my own small business, but I was too scared to take the leap and I didn’t have a direction for the field of business I wanted to go into. Shortly after my mom’s passing, there was an ah-ha moment! I suddenly realized two things: life is too short to not take the leap and my passion was staring at me right in the faces of my three pups.
I then paired my deep appreciation for colorful, patterned textiles and love for design, and started designing accessories for dogs. The brand was sparked by my fascination for finding and preserving generational heritage techniques and pairing it with what I love most — my pup trio.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a new, small business definitely has its challenges but at the end of the day, it always seems to be worth it. Since Western Lune is still very much my side business, part of my struggle is finding the energy after a full day of work at my interior design firm to then put more energy into my small business. Often times though, it doesn’t feel like “work,” I like to call it my passion project. Often times when I find myself working on my passion project, there’s hardly a sense of frustration because I use it as my creative outlet outside of work to cultivate my thoughts and ideas. I also struggle with having too many ideas that I want to implement all at once — the phrase “take things one step at a time” does not seem to register with me. I love taking one hundred steps at the same time, which can sometimes create more chaos. But I generally work better in the midst of a whirlwind. One of my favorite quotes from Fashion Icon Iris Apfel, “I like to do things as though I’m playing jazz” defines my entire being.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Western Lune is a dog accessory brand designed in collaboration with global artisans. Designs and products are all handmade, preserving traditional heritage techniques across the globe. I create a wide array of products that include bandanas, bags, bowls, and beds. All materials are locally and ethically sourced in India and Morocco and handmade by local artisans. I work directly with the artisans to select fabric materials and colors and I sketch out designs to have them bring my vision to life.
My two most popular items are my dog bandanas and beds.
Bandana textiles are block printed and dyed by hand — this traditional artisanal technique has been alive in India for generations and I strive to cultivate the art of hand block printing. Designs are hand carved into wooden blocks to make a tool to hand press dye into the fabrics. Fabrics are then dyed using a block print stamp technique. Dye made up of vegetables and plants is transferred to wooden block designs and stamped as layers into the fabric.
Our cactus silk dog beds are handmade with all-natural materials and built to last. The fabric is part of the agave family and harvested from cacti in Northern Morocco, often found in the Saharan desert. These unique fibers are washed, dyed, dried and hand-spun to make up these beautiful beds. Vegetable dyes are used to preserve the material.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
To tell readers a bit more about how I came up with the name “Western Lune.” I was born to an American mother and French father. Raised in Texas “the wild west” and moved out to California “the actual west.” I have always been a creator and am forever inspired by my first girl, Luna — “Lune,” in French. Hence came the name “Western Lune”.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.westernlune.com
- Instagram: @westernlune
- Facebook: @westernlune
