It’s a universal problem: Our beloved pets shed, and despite our best efforts, we walk out the door with pet fur on our clothing.

“I was tired of always battling pet hair, and I knew I was not alone in the struggle,” says Lily Luu ’20 MBA about her own experience as a dog owner. “Pet hair getting stuck on clothing can be a nuisance. Many pet parents find themselves having to change outfits or avoid certain colors.”

Luu decided to do something about it and turned both her passion for entrepreneurship and her love of animals into an already growing business launched earlier this year: LUU Lounge, a pet hair-resistant loungewear line made with patent-pending Furoff Fabric, which “solves this problem and lets you simply pat off any fur from the fabric with your hand, no lint roller needed,” says Luu.

Before taking the leap into this solo venture, Luu had some work experience to draw from. Following graduation from the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management with her MBA degree focusing on both marketing and information systems in 2020, she moved around the U.S. to lead software modernization project training and testing programs for various state government agencies. “After several years in tech, I decided to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams and moved back to California,” she says.

Luu readily admits that developing the product was a rigorous process. “I had an idea for a custom pet hair-resistant fabric and needed to find a manufacturer who could bring it to life,” she adds. After months of searching, she “found a partner and went through multiple rounds of samples, tweaking fabric, refining designs, and adjusting sizing until everything was just right,” she says.

“The long back and forth process was well worth the effort to create a product I was proud to offer.”
 

Instant Demand from Pet Parents

Luu wanted to be sure she had customers: “Before launching and placing my first bulk order, I validated my idea by creating a video for social media,” she says. “The video went viral, and thousands of people showed interest. I decided to build my brand in public, and I shared the journey and all the challenges along the way with my followers.”

On the day of the June launch, she had a waitlist of more than 3,000 people worldwide, she says. “I sold out within a couple of hours, relying solely on organic reach without spending money on paid ads.” Her following has since grown to more than 50,000 people, and she continually creates new viral content showcasing the ease of wiping fur from her innovative leisurewear.

LUU Lounge clothing—unisex sweatshirt-style hoodies and sweatpants—comes in black, strawberry (pink), and matcha (medium green), and is made in small batches. Sizes ranch from XXS to 5XL. Luu lets customers know when new merchandise becomes available on her website.
 

A Business Helping Animals, Too

A portion of LUU Lounge proceeds benefit furry companions as well. “I am honored to work with Korean K9 Rescue, an amazing organization that saves dogs from high-risk situations and finds them loving homes,” says Luu. The rescue found her through social media, and Luu is a sponsor for their nonprofit animal hospital. “I am proud to help give animals a second chance at life,” she says.

Luu shares more with UCR Business about finding the right fabric, her plans for the future of LUU Lounge, how earning an MBA helped make her idea a reality, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:
 

How did you go about finding the fabric for the loungewear?

After months of searching, I found the right manufacturing partner that could make the custom pet hair-resistant fabric, and we went through multiple rounds of samples, making fabric adjustments, refining designs, and fine-tuning sizing until everything was just right. It was a long back-and-forth process.
 

What’s next for LUU Lounge?

This fall, I am restocking my loungewear sets and introducing new color options. I am also developing new products for future launches and creating a brand ambassador program to expand my reach. I am also assembling a team to support marketing efforts, allowing me to focus more on research and development to grow my product line.

Over the next five years, I envision expanding beyond loungewear into home goods and workwear for pet-related industries, with the goal of eventually scaling into retail stores.

 

How did your MBA experience shape your approach to building LUU Lounge?

The UCR MBA program taught me the importance of creating a competitive advantage and solving a real problem. A quote from Professor Rich Yueh stuck with me: “Find a hole and fill it.” To succeed, you need to identify your customers’ needs and meet them. Since I decided to build my brand in public, I have involved my community in the process by creating polls to gather their feedback and have used their input to guide my next steps.

During my MBA program, I worked with multiple small business founders on marketing projects, gaining hands-on experience that I now use in my own business. From banding to launch, I have built LUU Lounge as a solopreneur drawing on both my academic studies and internship experiences.
 

What advice would you give entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

First, let go of your attachment to the outcome. For years, I let the “what ifs” hold me back: “What if it does not work?” What if I fail?” But the other side of that is “What if it does work?” and “What if it works better than you could ever imagine?”

I have found it crucial to keep an experimental mindset, be open to trying new ideas, and treat it as an opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t. Use what you learn to improve rather than fearing mistakes.

Most importantly, enjoy the journey because the growth you gain from pursuing your own idea is truly unlike anything else.