PAW-SONAL ICONS

The pet accessories industry has never barked louder. A few luxury fashion houses set the precedent early on, with founders and creative directors using their own pets as muses to launch exclusive collections. We bring you their heart-warming 'tails'

- SHRADDHA CHOWDHURY

In a world divided by court orders against our canine companions, there are some that choose to go above and beyond for their pets. Numerous luxury fashion houses have capitalised on this sentiment. Motifs of dogs, cats, birds, and other animals are no longer merely ancillary ingredients; they've become central to campaigns, collections, and revenue streams. Not to mention the booming pet wear industry that's projected to hit a market valuation of US$7.23 billion by 2030.

Tracing the paw prints, we track how fashion houses have kept tails wagging through pet-friendly couture, with founders and creative directors finding inspiration in their fur babies.

THE VALENTINO PUGS

Embedded in the atelier’s lore is founding designer Valentino Garavani’s lifelong love of pugs — his own companions who he famously said were “more important than the collections.” He’s believed to have named a second line of clothing after his late pug, Oliver, complete with a clothing tag bearing the motif of a pug. Valentino's entourage of the toy breed lived the most luxurious life, travelling in private jets, their every need catered to by a butler of their own. So it comes as no surprise that motifs and prints of the beloved breed help shape much of the brand narrative, appearing in an array of Valentino collectibles even today.

CHRISTIAN DIOR & HIS BELOVED BOBBY