Makers & Artists The Gentle Pit

Brie Donkin

Brie Donkin

Eagle Rock, Ca

Designer / Project Manager  I  The Gentle Pit

 

Brie Donkin grew up in Agoura Hills. She has a passion for animals and fashion, which makes her the perfect contributor to The Gentle Pit!

Brie  has been a fashion designer for over a decade but also spends her time volunteering and organizing for her other passion, dogs.

Her first experience with a rescue was with her yellow lab, Mack. Her family adopted Mack who was abandoned at a home when a family moved. Mack was blind and deaf, but with surgery, they were able to correct those issues and provide a happy and healthy life for him. Fast forward to three years ago, and Brie found a new fur babe to save, a pit / mastiff lady named Mowgli. “Getting Mowgli really inspired me to become more of a Pit Bull advocate and be more involved with the local shelters,” says Brie.

Brie and her twin sister, Jenny, started Mack and Mowgli Project in 2015 to help gather and give supplies to shelters in need. The two of them place a bin for donations around the city's dog daycares, vet offices and rescue organizations to collect blankets, toys, grooming supplies and any other dog & cat-related items. Every two weeks or so, Brie and Jenny collect the items and take them to five local shelters based on what their particular needs are.

In addition to her donation business, Brie volunteers for NKLA, a local organization who supports rescuing animals from high-kill shelter for adoption and advocates spaying and neutering. Her time is spent with all the new rescue pups, taking pictures and making videos for potential adopters online.

Coming up, Brie will work directly with The Gentle Pit to source the best materials and manufacturers in Los Angeles for anything from scarves to dog blankets that will be sold on The Gentle Pit website. “I love fashion and dogs, so this is really a great opportunity for me!,” said Brie.

Stay tuned for the collaborative designs coming soon!

Brie in 14 questions:

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1. IF YOU WERE A BREAKFAST CEREAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

 Homemade Granola

 

2. WHAT IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR LIFE? ONE ALBUM.

 Probably something like Fleetwood Mac

 

3. NAME A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS TO SHOP IN L.A. 

Arts District DTLA 

 

4. WOULD YOU RATHER BE A MEMBER OF N’Sync, The Jackson 5, Spice Girls or Beastie Boys?

    Spice Girls

 

5. FAVORITE QUOTE IS?

"Whatever kind of night you're having, morning always wins"- Barbara Kingsolver 

 

6. CELEBRITY CRUSH?

    Marmaduke

 

7. WHAT'S THE DRINK THAT MAKES YOU A LITTLE WEIRD? 

 I only drink clear alcohol like gin or vodka because the rest of them make me weird! These days my drink of choice is coffee!

 

8. FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL TO?

Anywhere new with good food and culture to explore. Top favorites so far have been New Zealand and South Africa. Locally, I love weekend trips to Carmel and Palm Springs 

 

9. DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN 3 WORDS

Minimal, monochromatic, casual

 

10. FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIE?

 Cinderella

 

11. WHAT'S YOUR NICKNAME?

 B, Breezy, and "One of the Twins"

 

12. FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP FOR HOME ITEMS IN L.A.?

   The Hunt Vintage and West Elm

 

13. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BEST FRIEND.

 Mowgli is my pit bull and best friend! She goes everywhere with me and follows me around like my little shadow. She inspires me every day to be strong, happy and fight for other shelter dogs like her!

 

14. FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME?

  Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver 

 

Written by Lisa Barnes