Original Goods for Dogs and Dog OwnersMilltown originally started as designer Mariko Nakaya&#39s side project back in 2007. Dissatisfied with her work in the commercial fashion industry, she wanted to make bags that looked and felt like her favorite vintage items, and that were made with that same focus on craftsmanship, quality materials, and care. As the business grew, her husband John Davis began to help manage the business side, as well as doing some sewing in the hours after his own full time job. The brand grew organically over the years with the support of friends, family and local shops and we incorporated as an LLC in the summer of 2012.In April 2014, an unexpected event changed everything for us. Mariko was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of cancer, and had to undergo 6 months of chemotherapy. During this difficult time, our dog, Brownie, was a constant source of love and support. His companionship, as well as the social and physical benefits like hanging out with other dog parents, going for walks, playing, etc., was some of the best therapy Mariko could have. Mariko&#39s treatment was successful, and she has been in remission since November, 2014. After going through such a traumatic event, we decided that we would refocus our product line towards dog apparel and accessories. We rescued our 3 cats and 1 dog from shelters, and they helped us during this difficult time: our animal products are dedicated to them. Because of this, we have developed some charity products to promote dog adoption from shelters, and work actively with shelters and rescue groups in both Brooklyn and Japan. We hope that our company can help raise awareness about puppy mills, backyard breeders, and other inhumane animal sales practices, and inspire people to adopt their next dog.