Doggy’s got style

When 21-year-old Mumbai resident Aisha Bhonsale was invited to her cousin’s wedding in November, the ladies were fawning over their finery — lehengas, saris, and sherwanis. A particular silk sherwani, however, grabbed the most attention and no, it wasn’t the groom’s. Instead, it belonged to Aisha’s three-year-old cocker spaniel, Zoro.  

“The whole mood was very festive and we decided to dress Zoro up in a sherwani too. He was extremely comfortable and looked stunning. The outfit was adjustable and lined with organic cotton,” says Aisha who paid Rs 3,500 for the sherwani that was on display for two hours. “I plan to buy him a bowtie for his birthday,” she continues.

Aisha isn’t the only one splurging on her pet pooch. Dog couture is quite the latest sartorial trend, as designer Soniya Vazifdar can attest to. Soniya set out to design rainwear for women, children and pets, and to her surprise, the last one picked up more than the other two. Today, her pet couture range includes rainwear, sequined-jackets, hoods and more. Prices for custom-made wear can go up to Rs 10,000, depending on the size and the product requirement.  “I take customised orders and pet parents don’t mind paying a bomb for special occasions — like for a wedding or a birthday party. I recently had a Dubai-based client, who wanted a traditional Parsi dagli (wedding dress) designed for her pet beagle, as there was wedding in the house. They wanted him to look like a part of the family. The outfit came upto Rs 5,500 and was coordinated with the bride’s look,” she adds.

For Rashi Narang, the founder of Heads Up for Tails — an online portal specialising in fashionable dog apparel and accessories — the idea was born when she couldn't find good enough pet couture to dress up her Labrador, Sara.

She shares, “That’s when I realised that the market is completely untapped. I started designing and making clothes for my Labrador. I  was a single person team. Later, people started approaching me and that’s how the brand was built.” Rashi caters to all the breeds and has about nine different sizes of outfits with adjustable tummy and neck straps.

Another service that specialises in fancy frill wear is Ankita Saini's online portal That Dog in Tuxedo (TDIT) — they have a crisp, black look for everyone from a Pomeranian to a Great Dane. “We customise clothes for every occasion and have a special festive collection for Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, Chirstmas, Valentines Day and Halloween. We work with materials such as brocade, silk and georgette. The cost of customising products starts from Rs 3,500,” she shares.

For all those who think that this is indulgence of another level, Geetanjali Barouliya insists that it’s totally worth it. It is her pet Junior’s sixth birthday and the Thane resident wants to make sure that her pup looks the best. “I was always looking for something very formal and unique.  Then I came across TDIT and ordered a tux for Junior. At first the usual sizes did not fit well but later I took the measurements according to the chart and got it custom made for Rs 4,500. Junior looked extremely handsome and people were surprised to see custom made clothes available for pets,” she says.