Rachel Pohl I New Rachel Pohl collection

Rachel Pohl, the artist behind our latest collection. We dive into the inspiration behind the vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and unique artwork that define her designs. Rachel also shares stories about her life with dogs in the stunning landscapes of Lofoten, Norway.

Blanka 

Welcome back to a new episode of our Unleashed podcast. Today, I'm here with the artist behind our new signature series, Rachel Pohl. Welcome.

 

Rachel 

Thank you so much for having me. I am very excited about this conversation and so is Rowan. Rowan is seven months old, so, you know, we'll see how long his patience lasts.

 

Blanka

So far so good. But for those who do not know you yet, could you tell a bit about yourself?

 

Rachel 

Yeah. So, my name is Rachel Pohl. I've been a full-time artist for about ten years now, and I live in Norway. I moved here two and a half years ago with my husband, our older dog Knute, who's also a Samoyed, and our cat, Hanna. And this is Rowan, who is from Namsos.

 

Blanka 

Knute is only five years old, right? So you didn’t always have the dogs. How did that change your life, having Knute enter it?

 

Rachel 

Oh my gosh, it changed our lives so much, honestly. We had been doing a lot of travel for work; Charles and I were doing a lot of tourism jobs where we were flying all over the world, and it really didn't feel sustainable for us. We love being home, love the feeling of having a routine and that stability, and spending time actively outdoors. And sometimes that can be really tough when you're traveling a lot. So I actually made the decision that we were going to get a dog. I actually put down a deposit—take notes, that’s how you get a dog! You don’t ask for permission; you ask for forgiveness after.

 

Blanka 

Not permission, exactly!

 

Rachel 

Yes, exactly. That was right before 2020 happened, before Covid. It actually worked out perfectly. We got Knute like two or three months before the pandemic, and it was almost like we knew something was coming and it was just time to slow down. The minute that Charles met Knute, he was instantly in love. They are soulmates. I've been the third wheel in their relationship ever since, which is why we got a second dog—so I could have a soulmate and best friend.

 

Blanka 

Good to hear that Charles is not that! You needed to get a dog to find your soulmate.

 

Rachel 

Yeah, I thought it was Charles, but then, you know, Charles's soulmate is Knute, so…what can you do? We really slowed down a lot when we got Knute, our first Samoyed, and started prioritizing smaller, local adventures, like just playing in the yard. The slowness and the stillness that we found with having a puppy, especially, is really special. We’ve been experiencing that again since we got Rowan here in Norway, in April.

 

Blanka 

Where were we? Yeah, so, how has it been to go from one dog to two dogs?

 

Rachel 

It has been both wonderful and, in some ways, challenging. For example, we realized we needed to take Knute on extra runs or walks. He’s used to bigger hikes and runs, so with a lot of shorter walks he was getting out of shape. It was challenging but just so nice. We have a big fenced-in yard here, so watching them play and discovering their dynamic together has been really special and has enhanced both of their lives so much.

 

Blanka 

They really like to entertain each other in a way. I remember with my puppy, I was really looking forward to getting him home to the other dogs so they could entertain him.

 

Rachel 

Yes, exactly. They learn so much from each other. I’m not out there barking and biting him! They already have their own language, and they’re learning ours too—Rowan knows both Norwegian and English. It’s amazing to see Knute teaching Rowan how to be a dog, setting boundaries that Rowan constantly tests—that’s what puppies do!

 

 

Blanka 

As you mentioned, you have been traveling a lot, being outside a lot even before the dogs. Now, obviously, you're outside with the dogs. Has that changed how you view nature or how you look at things?

 

Rachel 

Absolutely. I mean, before we got the dogs, I was really into ski mountaineering, mountain biking, and rock climbing, and I honestly don't really do those things anymore. I thought I would miss them, but the way we now interact with the world just feels really special. I love going slower and noticing the colors, the light, and little details, which, of course, plays into my work as an artist. It’s helped me so much.

 

Blanka 

You talked a bit about colors and inspiration from nature. When people look at your art, you can see that inspiration—it's very colorful and deeply connected to nature. Could you talk a bit about the inspiration behind the signature series with Non-stop dogwear?

 

Rachel 

Yes, so we have two colorways. There’s this gorgeous dark purple one with pinks, purples, and white, inspired by winter sunsets in Norway. The colors here are unlike anywhere else I’ve experienced. Where I grew up, the Alpenglow might last five minutes, but here, you might have that light for hours in the winter. The other colorway is inspired by autumn colors here in Lofoten—the turquoise running through it reflects the color of the water here, along with the ocher and orange of the autumn leaves and mountains.

 

Blanka 

The patterns are also really unique. Could you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind those?

 

Rachel 

The mountains are inspired by Rondane, a place where we’ve spent a lot of time. We live in Lofoten, but the past two winters we’ve gone down close to Non-stop dogwear headquarters for cross-country skiing, where we love to see snowy trees and beautiful sunsets. The mountain range in the design is inspired by that, but it also feels like a lot of different mountain ranges. For the geometric pattern, I looked at some Norwegian knitwear but wanted to create something simple and universal. It’s a repeating pattern that feels familiar yet new and exciting.

 

Blanka 

It’s something very universal. I think many people can relate to it, even if they don’t live in the mountains.

 

Rachel 

Yes, exactly. It’s not supposed to be from any one culture; it’s an archetypal pattern that feels like it could be from anywhere. It’s about creating order, which is what a pattern is—containment and order. It’s very pleasing to look at.

 

Blanka 

I agree! The collection is so beautiful. You also have two fanny packs as part of this collection, and they both have patches with actual paintings you did in the past. Can you tell us about those two paintings?

 

Rachel 

One painting on the teal and orange colorway is from the Yukon Territories in Canada, which looks similar to the landscapes here in Lofoten and Norway. It has that feeling of walking up a valley and seeing big mountains. The other painting is from Artist Point in Washington, which feels like many places I’ve experienced here in Norway. I wanted to bring my past from North America into this collection and hopefully relate it to people everywhere.

 

Blanka 

That’s wonderful! It’s a blend of Non-stop dogwear’s Norwegian roots and your experiences from the U.S. What do you want people to feel when they see this collection and put it on their dogs?

 

Rachel 

If they feel even half as excited as I did, I’ll be thrilled! I want people to feel joyful and motivated to get outside with their dogs. As winter approaches and it gets colder, it’s easy to lose motivation to go out, especially in the dark or rain. I hope this collection sparks happiness and inspires people to notice those colors in nature, slow down a bit, and appreciate the details of the world around them.

 

Blanka 

I think that’s such a great message. Thank you so much, Rachel. We’re so excited for this collection and know people will love it.

 

Rachel 

Thank you so much, Blanka. And thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put into helping us raise these dogs. We’ve asked you a million questions about training and behavior, and you’ve been there every step of the way.

 

Blanka 

Just trying my best!

 

Rachel 

Thanks for helping keep these two alive.

 

Blanka 

My pleasure.

 

Rachel

Thank you.