Space-agey bubbles, cartoon hula girls and animated animals pop off the patterns of DeTango household goods found in Mongrel of Carytown. The local company — co-owned by Mongrel owner Stan McCulloch, Mark Burkett and Lisa Cumbey — designs and distributes to stores nationwide everything from snazzy cocktail napkins to funky gift wrap. Cumbey notes that the company's name is an amalgamation of many things — too numerous to mention — just like the colors and patterns used in its signature designs.
The idea for DeTango stemmed from the triad's search for colorful, kitschy gift wrap. "I buy [inventory] for the store, and it was a constant disappointment year after year," says McCulloch. "The job was always picking the least of the worst." In addition to gift wrap, the company also produces Say So greeting cards, L'Quid barware and assorted home goods.
"All we wanted to do was bring our design ethic to the universe," says Cumbey.
