The Pet Fashion Industry
It’s irrefutable that fashion is one of the largest industries in the world, influencing how people present themselves and spend their money. While the obvious consumers of the fashion industry are humans, the pet fashion industry is becoming more prominent every day. From cheap, holiday-themed dog sweaters to luxurious Hermès collars costing thousands of dollars, there are countless options to dress up your pet for every occasion. As overconsumption continues to engulf our society, pet fashion is just one of many industries that have come out of it. However, even while environmentally controversial, pet fashion offers joy and playfulness to millions of pet owners.
Courtesy of WWD
Pet fashion shows have become the next big thing in the couture scene. The CatWalk FurBaby show during New York Fashion Week introduced a show pairing models and influencer dogs in new designs from brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Nicole Miller. The show created a wonderful opportunity to show off new looks while raising money for several charitable organizations. The show aimed to bring in organizations representing five foundational issues: animals, children, the environment, service, and women. Organizations representing any of these five groups teamed up with fashion brands and famous pets to compete for one of three categories: People’s Choice award, Publisher’s Pick, and Judges’ Pick. The winners of these categories were given donations towards their organizations, raising money for worthy causes while providing an experience for New York fashion and pet lovers. The show departed from the usual seriousness of fashion shows, replacing the quiet and intimidating atmosphere with one filled with lightheartedness and laughter.
Courtesy of Moshiqa
Diving into the luxury pet market, Moshiqa is a brand that encapsulates it all. Moshiqa establishes itself as a brand meant to provide luxurious, high-quality, fashionable pieces to humans and pets. Highly focused on providing a luxury experience, the brand offers truly lavish pieces such as tiaras and bathrobes for cats and dogs and celebrity collaborations. Paris Hilton’s collaboration with Moshiqa features the MetaPink line, a collection of products from bow collars to cat sweaters that all feature the characteristic Paris Hilton elements of hot pink and iconic sayings such as “boss babe.”
Courtesy of Moshiqa
If these opulent designs didn’t catch your eye, don't worry; there's even more luxury in the pet industry. Starting strong with Hermès, their catalog of dog fashion products is surprisingly large, ranging from raincoats to almost $5,000 dog beds. Heading to Louis Vuitton, you can find many pet products featuring the iconic LV monogram and limited edition dog bags. For those wanting to give their dogs the epitome of luxury fashion, Louis Vuitton offers a beautiful, house-shaped kennel trunk for merely $60,000.
Lastly, Gucci’s designer pet collection seems the most extensive, offering collars and leashes of all varieties and even pet sofas with a classic Victorian design. It may seem unbelievable that anybody is spending such large amounts of money on pet fashion, but the industry was valued at 5.56 billion USD in 2023 and is projected to grow. This industry is real, and as more consumers become interested in beautifying their dogs, we may one day see luxury pet fashion shows.
Whether luxury or not, pet fashion offers a new creative venue for both designers and consumers alike. In light of this new pet fashion era, take a leap into the world of designs that can turn your furry friend into a mini version of yourself.
Featured Image Courtesy of Tatler Asia