Brisbane dog lovers turn wags to riches with canine accessories

Puppy love inspired these local fashion labels that cater to cute canines and their hopelessly devoted owners.

Puppy love inspired these Brisbane fashion labels that cater to cute canines and their hopelessly devoted owners.

PABLO & CO

They may be small, but these miniature kings of pop culture know how to rock a bow tie. With their mum Loren Cunliffe, 25, miniature dachshunds Pablo and Saint are bringing runway style to dog parks across Brisbane through their fashion label Pablo & Co.

The cute canines are the poster pups for the brand’s collars, leads and harnesses. And they keep their 46,000 online followers up to date on new designs and trends through their Instagram account, @the.life.of.pablo.and.saint.

Pablo & Co’s namesake models one of the company’s stylish harnesses.

“They’re like mini influencers,” Loren says.

“All the captions are written from their perspective, so it’s as if they run the account themselves. People love all the cheeky things they say.”

Pablo, 3, and Saint, 1, lead an enviable lifestyle filled with snacks, relaxation and of course, a little bit of mischief.

“They attend Noah’s Park doggie day care in Bowen Hills three times a week while I am at the warehouse, creating and sorting stock,” says Loren, who previously worked for her family’s retail business.

“Pablo & Co is my full-time job and I can work anywhere from a 12- to a 14-hour day, so it’s great to keep them occupied.”

The business, with its growing global customer base, had humble beginnings in Loren’s family home in Paddington in 2016, while the young entrepreneur was recovering from minor surgery.

Loren Cunliffe with Pablo and his brother Saint

“I’ve always loved sewing and had a passion for quirky fabrics, so I decided to start making some dog bandannas,” she says.

Having started Pablo’s Instagram account around the same time, where he modelled Loren’s creations, she was quickly inundated with positive feedback.

“I started an Etsy store and found I had so many loyal supporters from Instagram who loved what I was doing,” she says.

Drawing inspiration from the latest runway trends, she worked with a design team to produce a range of bandannas, harnesses and leashes.

And so dog owners could match their pooches, Loren also offered snazzy attire for humans.

“I really wanted to start something in the Australian market that hadn’t been touched on,” she says.

“Everyone loves their fur babies and better yet, who doesn’t love matching them?”

In no time, her side hustle transformed into a full-time operation.

“It is extremely busy. I now have over 25 stockists around the globe including Japan, America and New Zealand,” she says.

Despite the international success, Loren’s focus remains local, with a new concept store opening soon in Newmarket.

The otherwise online enterprise also pops up at design markets, to ensure Pablo & Co fans can stay in vogue.

“Just seeing the joy and excitement from my customers excites me and makes me want to grow the business even more,” Loren says.

Finders Keepers Gifts x Pablo & Co., Newmarket Village, 400 Newmarket Rd, Newmarket.

THE DOG MUM

Being a dog mum is hard work. It takes patience, authority and lots of love. And a little recognition never goes astray.

While pondering the purchase of yet another matching bandana set for her fur babies at a local market, Emma Karanges thought “what about me?”

The QUT marketing and public relations lecturer and tutor, who is on maternity leave from the university, wanted to celebrate the unshakeable bond she has with her pooches, Boss, a kelpie, 5, and Kora, 4, a koolie.

The Dog Mum founder Emma Karanges with Boss (left) and Kora

“There is so much available for dogs, which is awesome because they are literally my children, but I am their dog mum,” says Emma, 30, of Acacia Ridge.

“I wanted something to showcase that part of my identity.” So she followed her heart and founded online store, The Dog Mum (TDM) in 2017 with her husband and the company’s operations manager Dan.

Emma fell pregnant with their son Hunter, who will be two in May, not long after the launch “so he’s always been a huge part of the biz too”.

Whether it’s T-shirts, tote bags, aprons or bumper stickers, there is a Dog Mum design for it. “I think of a typical dog mum and every sort of product that she may need to get through the day,” says Emma, who will complete her PhD this year.

Frenchie Dad Breed illustration T-shirt, $47.95, thedogmum.com

TDM now has five full-time employees and an outsourced team of designers to create the ethically made looks.

“I knew it would work because I loved it so much,” Emma says.

“When you feel so passionate about something, you find a way to make it happen.”

And her pride and joy – her pooches – remain integral to the operation.

“I always refer to them as my muse. They are my constant source of inspiration for the brand because without them, I wouldn’t be a dog mum.

“Boss is like the captain of the football team, really good with all the chicks and he knows it, while Kora is my little bookworm who hangs out in the library, very sweet and uncertain
of herself.”

Hunter Karanges, son of The Dog Mum's Emma Karanges, with Boss the kelpie

With one a farm dog and the other a rescue pup, the two share a very special place in Emma’s heart.

“(As) a little girl I always knew I wanted dogs of my very own. Giving a dog a second chance was something really important to me.”

And right now, so is lending support to those affected by the bushfire crisis in Victoria and New South Wales. In response, TDM has just launched its Love Our Backyard collection, with all profits going to the Bushfire Appeal.

“Fundraising is a core part of TDM and we love giving our customers the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves,” Emma says.

TOP DOG BOUTIQUE

“Styling your pooch is so much fun because it’s a reflection of your style, combined with theirs,” says Top Dog Boutique founder Alex Dreise.

The 29-year-old digital designer discovered her passion for canine apparel after buying her beloved Romeo, a Shih tzu x Lhasa apso, from a Brisbane breeder in 2011.

And the cuddly sidekick ultimately prompted Alex’s savvy business venture.

Top Dog Boutique founder Alex Dreise and Romeo

“Romeo was definitely the inspiration,” Alex says. “As other dog owners know, you do anything you can to spoil your pup. If it wasn’t for Romeo, I wouldn’t have noticed the gap in the market and started dreaming about owning a boutique to help other dog mums and dads spoil their own fur babies,” she says.

“There were so many world leaders in designer dog products that Australians just didn’t have access to – unless you wanted to pay a fortune for shipping. I had been dreaming about launching the site for discerning owners who are aesthetically and sustainably minded.”

Her solution was to open Top Dog Boutique in March last year.

From her Peregian Beach home on the Sunshine Coast, Alex, a QUT graduate, manages operations for the online store which sells the ultimate in creature comforts.

“It’s a place for lovers of dogs and lovers of design,” she says.

From Germany’s MiaCara to Melbourne-based Park Barkers, the store’s hand-picked collection features 16 luxe puppy lifestyle brands and Alex is already looking to expand with more labels plus a line of her own creation.

“I already have some exciting ideas in mind,” she says.

The young entrepreneur is also mindful of giving back and donates five per cent of sales to the RSPCA.

Max-Bone Blake hand knit jumper, $69, topdogboutique.com.au

“Part of my motivation for starting Top Dog Boutique was that I would be in a strong position to be able to give back to pups in need,” she says.

“Although there are lots of spoiled pups in Australia, unfortunately there are also lots in need. After all, every dog is a ‘Top Dog’ at heart,” she says.