What is Sophisticated Pup?
Sophisticated Pup
is a wonderful little company created by Michelle Cleek. It has been and continues to be a labor of love, something
that keeps her up at night with the wheels in her head spinning with new ideas that just can’t wait to hit the paper.
It is everything that she has ever wanted, an avenue to express her creativity while incorporating her admiration of her most
adorable little pug Penny.
Who is Michelle you may ask?
Michelle is a girl with a dog, who has a passion for art and all things
creative. She loves museums and looking and talking about art, but mostly she just loves to create. Michelle loves
all things handmade, and most importantly all things PUG! Penny is the apple of her eye and a never-ending muse.
You are just starting to see what Michelle is truly capable of with her tiny little endeavor, SP. The best is yet to
come, we hope you are along for the ride.
Our Mission:
Sophisticated Pup’s mission is to create truly unique, sophisticated-yet
quirky, handcrafted pet apparel, furniture and accessories for the most lovable of dogs. The products are not mass-produced,
and due to the handcrafted detail that goes into every piece of clothing, furniture or accessory, only limited amounts are
created. Sophisticated Pup uses only the highest quality materials in their designs.
Michelle
Cleek, President/ Lead Apparel and Accessory Designer
Michelle holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts Education,
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Master’s Degree in Visual Arts Management, Columbia College Chicago; other graduate
work completed at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Art History, Museum Education, Web Design and Illustration!
Michelle started work on Sophisticated Pup in January 2006 after working in art education and art museums for 5 years. She
has worked at places such as the Chicago Children's Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Indianapolis Museum of Art
and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. She also has worked as an art teacher at Noblesville Middle School in
Noblesville, IN. Michelle has acquired invaluable experience with managing arts organizations that help to make Sophisticated
Pup the organization that it is.
Lynn Cleek, Lead Furniture Designer
Lynn holds a Bachelor’s
Degree in Industrial Arts Education, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN; Master’s Degree in Industrial Arts Education,
Indiana State University. Lynn has served as Regional Sales Manager for Partner Industrial Products for the last 20
years. Before that, Lynn worked as a high school industrial arts teacher. Lynn has built furniture all of his
life and has decided to dedicate his expertise in the furniture industry to the construction of heirloom-quality pet furniture
for Sophisticated Pup. He is also the father of Michelle and grandfather to the most perfect pug in the world, Penny!
Penny, Lead Model, Product Tester
Penny is an American Lo-Sze Pug. Penny came into Michelle’s
world August 3, 2005 and it has never been the same since! All products get Penny's pawprint of approval, you can
tell this because they are sewn into each and every product.
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- To produce high-quality handmade pet products.
- To provide the most personal customer service.
- To share in the excitement of pet owners pampering their pets.
- To
allow customers to customize their purchases for the beloved pet.
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| Penny and Michelle |
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Our business was founded in January 2006 with Michelle realizing that people were noticing
the outfits that her pug Penny sported around the city. Not a trip to the park went by that another pet parent didn't comment
on Penny's attire and suggest that she should start selling them. Michelle started plugging away on her line of pet products
and collaborated with her father, an experienced furniture designer, on the possibilities of starting their entity, Sophisticated
Pup. Response was immediately overwhelming, we couldn't be happier to be working everyday with the well-being and love of
our pets at the heart of our work.
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| Penny |
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