Leather Accessories for Pets with Quality & Style: Meet Around the Collar
What happens when a third generation leather craftsman from Columbia, South America meets a New York-bred fashion designer? Beautiful things for our pups. Lalo and Sharon Romero are the forces behind Around the Collar, a luxury brand making leather accessories for pets. Their collars, leashes, harnesses and carry bags feature bold colors and designs, an expression of cultures colliding to create something new and fresh. They’ve developed a loyal following of customers that keep coming back for their original, trends-of-the-moment styles. I interviewed Sharon for my Bark and Swagger radio show on Pet Life Radio recently. I love this brand, so I wanted to share Around the Collar with you, too!
Lalo, Sharon & Toby
Lalo was trained by his mother, a gifted tailor, to make patterns as a young boy. Lalo’s father set up factories in Columbia for New York businessmen from the garment industry. Sharon, with a still-warm degree from the famed Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC, found a job in a belt factory, working her way up to designer. A search for a skilled industry craftsman brought Lalo into her life, and it was instant professional and personal magic. They’ve been a team ever since. Parents of an active Border Collie, Toby, they discovered a gap in the market for both high quality and fashionable pet accessories, and Around the Collar was born.
I love that Lalo and Sharon do everything in house, from designing to manufacturing. I know there’s a level of care and quality control that you wouldn’t normally find in dealing with an outside factory. Sharon says she likes to come into New York City from their home/business on Long Island, to people watch and check out luxury department stores and boutiques, scouting trends that would work for our furry friends. Matching dog and cat collars, matching human-pet pieces, crystals, studs, stones…if you can imagine it, Sharon and Lalo can probably create it.
The Milton
You can see how the attention to detail makes these accessories stand out. Here’s a few of the features Around the Collar pieces include:
- High quality workmanship
- Custom created pieces
- Custom dyed leather for Around the Collar only
- Hand painted treatments on edges and trims
- Each sizing hole is hand painted
- Genuine Crystallized Swarovski Elements handset and back riveted
- Genuine Leather Lining with stitching and painted edge
These are very particular details many of us might not even notice, unless we were comparing two pieces side by side. But, it’s exactly these types of details that make Around the Collar so special. Take a look at the riot of color in their designs.
Emily & Frank with their amazing service dogs
Great job capturing the spirit of this amazing couple and the company they have built together!!! Sharon has been helping me design and Lalo has been overseeing the crafting of harnesses and leashes for my Yorkies for years and we cherish each and every one. Fitting a Yorkie is not always easy but they go out of their way to make sure they fit properly so my furkids are as safe and secure as they are stylish.
Hi Susan – Glad you liked the story! They are a beautiful brand and was happy to feature them on the site. Also did a radio interview with Sharon for my Pet Life Radio show of the same name, which was fun! Will check out your site!
Looking for stuff for my male service dog I see thing for females
Hi Mona! Thanks for reaching out. If you click on any of the links, it will take you to a site that has lots of choices for your mail service dog, including items from Around the Collar. They make collars for all types. What kinds do you generally like and maybe I can steer you to some choices?
Jody