Press Room

High-End Luxury For Man's Best Friend On Display At Trade Show

August 20, 2007

A whisper fleece robe, a chenille pillow, a handmade sweater – all for our four legged friends. These were just some of the high-end goods on display at the first ever Luxury Pet Pavilion Traveling Trade Show.

Pet furniture designer Stephanie Ellis founded the exhibit to meet the growing demand of folks looking to pamper their pets.

“Pet products outsold toys and candy last year,” said Ellis. “People have brought Rover inside and they've really become part of their families instead of just their pet.”

According to industry experts, Americans shell out $41 billion a year on pets, and that number is expected to rise.

“They're buying designer duds. They are buying high quality products for them, because people are taking their pets every where,” said Luxury Pet Pavilion Media and Marketing Director Charlotte Reed. “Pets are a reflection of their lifestyle.”

The Pet Pavilion wasn't open to the public, but Reed showed NY1 some of the latest pet trends.

“Travel bags are hot right now. You think about fashion; you think about fit and you think about functionality,” said Reed. “You've got a beautiful bag, plush inside for the dog. You've got these great pockets. You've got metallic. Red is a popular color, that's what people want to see, and also the bags are very discreet.”

From bags to bling – we're talking crystal studded bowls, leashes and collars.

“I mean my dog could wear this mesh collar and I could wear it too,” said Reed.

Reed says pet owners are also interested in eco-friendly clothing, and in the wake of the pet food recall, more people are buying organic and natural foods.

Some of the vendors say they were inspired by their pooches to open a pet business. Pet clothing and furniture designer Marilyn Hikida is the owner of Barking Baby. She founded the company as a way to spend more time with her Maltese.

“I had a very big corporate job and I got Baby and he basically took over my life. And I really wanted a job where I could take Baby to work with me everyday,” said Hikida. “And I was out there looking. I couldn't find it, so I started my own company for him.”

And little Tiana inspired Kelly Whealton to open Boutique of Paws.

“About five years ago I just started making clothing for my dog,” said Whealton. “I couldn't find anything in the market that I really liked that was affordable and also fit her well, so I started experimenting. I could knit and I could sew, and it kind of evolved from there.”

Giving Tiana something to bark about.

- Shazia Khan