Newcastle University

Dominic Desmond (BSc Biology and Psychology 2011)’s Dusty Paw is a t-shirt company with a difference. And Newcastle graduates can get two tees for the price of one through our Big Market initiative.

Affiliated to the Fair Wear Foundation, which works to improve working conditions for garment makers around the world, Dusty Paw uses ethically-sourced organic cotton and bamboo in the production of its t-shirts. Dom also aims to draw attention to up-and-coming artists by featuring their designs in his products.

Lauren Girling (BA Politics and Sociology 2012) chats to the rising fashion entrepreneur about ethical clothing and juggling his new business with a full-time job.

What made you decide to venture into the world of business, marketing and fashion instead of biology and psychology?

Sometimes I ask myself that too. I guess I have always wanted to set something up that is truly my own. I love the idea of starting from just an idea and growing it into a business through hard work and belief.

Did your degree help you in your career at all?

After a bit of a post-university shuffling between an unpaid internship marketing for the men’s clothing brand Fly53 in London and other bits of marketing experience around the country, I am happily grafting in music and fashion PR, whilst promoting my own clothing brand at weekends and after work. It would have been a lot harder to get my current job without a degree.

Your ethical clothing brand, Dusty Paw, is a really unique idea. How did you come up with it?

I have always appreciated quality clothes that fit well and don’t stretch or break after the first wash, so knew that when I started Dusty Paw, I wanted to choose the absolute best t-shirt for the job. But I also knew nothing about t-shirts – so after hundreds of phone calls, hours scaling the internet and loads of samples I became an expert on everything ‘t-shirt’. From this new-found knowledge, I knew that I wanted to produce a higher-end ethically sourced t-shirt made from bamboo and organic cotton – making it incredibly soft, well fitted and durable.

For all those new to the work of Dusty Paw, can you tell us the premise?

I have always grown up knowing amazingly talented and creative artists and have had first-hand experience with their struggle for work. Through my current work in music and fashion PR I have also met a fair few musicians. So I knew there was an opportunity to start a company that enabled me to promote artists through the sale of t-shirts and collaborate with musicians. The name Dusty Paw was dreamt up after an incident involving my Jack Russell, a pile of mud and a white t-shirt.

I am always looking for talented artists who need exposure in the big wide world. So if that's you, please feel free to contact me.

What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?

Dusty Paw is a relatively new company so I haven’t managed to catch a big name like David Beckham or Alex Turner wearing my tees… yet! If I’m honest I’m just really happy I have the support of friends and family behind me that has enabled to get my dream off the ground. Support is hugely important when starting something by yourself as it can sometimes feel very lonely.

Do you have fond memories of Newcastle University?

Newcastle is an amazing city. Unlike much bigger ones like London or Leeds, Newcastle is quite small with a brilliant music scene – Digital and World Headquarters were my favourite stomping grounds.

You can find out more about redeeming your exclusive alumni buy-one-get-on-free offer on our Big Market pages, and shop online on the Dusty Paw website.

The Big Market is Newcastle University’s all-new benefits and services scheme. Gone are the ubiquitous hotel and car-rental discounts, replaced by unique offers from fellow Newcastle graduates with a useful product or service to share. These are early days, and we’re hoping to add more offers in the coming months. Please take a look at the Big Market article in January 2012's AlumNews if you’d like to be part of the project.