The Sunray Ensemble

Toms. Warby Parker. Seventh Generation. All are social enterprise brands, whose mission it is to make the world a better place. There’s a dog fashion brand working halfway around the world bringing jobs to artisans and spreading happiness across people, their dogs and the planet. Chews Happiness® is that brand, and founders Tavor White and wife, Meeta Gawande have created a special company blending high quality, eco-friendly materials with the wisdom and heart of an amazing culture.

The artisanal fashion from Bhutan designed and created by Chews Happiness® is made from yak down, a material more luxurious and warmer than cashmere, where the animals aren’t harmed and the down is much more sustainable. The collections include fashion for you and your dog – sweaters, collars and leashes for them; scarves, tunics, wraps and shrugs for us. They’re made to match and each includes patterns and colors with spiritual meaning in the Bhutanese culture, celebrating the connection between you, your dog and the planet.

And, I love that these pieces are handcrafted by women artisans from Bhutan to Boulder, Colorado, sustainably supporting indigenous peoples, artists and traditional lifestyles.

Artisan weaver, Yeshey Dorji.

What’s special?

The Bhutanese have designated a happiness quotient to life, measured in Gross National Happiness like we have the GNP, and they are the only UN country to have one! This means they value their people, animals and environment. We could take some valuable lessons from the Bhutanese.

Tavor and Meeta did. They were rising stars in their corporate fields in New York City. They lived life on the urban treadmill, working long hours. But, they also traveled, and it was a trip to Bhutan that opened their eyes to the beauty of this land and its people.

The Bhutanese philosophy made them realize they wanted something more from life. So, they picked up and moved to the Colorado mountains. And, they got a dog named Bouncer.

Finding good quality, eco-friendly, “good vibe” products was hard and they wanted the best for Bouncer. Chews Happiness® was born.

“Chews Happiness products have all been carefully designed and finely crafted to score high on the Happiness Scale with pets, people and the planet,” explained White.  “Every purchase comes with peace of mind built right in.”

Yak down is naturally shed, not plucked or skinned, and is one of the warmest natural fibers. Unlike cashmere, which is unfortunately causing massive desertification due to overgrazing of huge herds of cashmere goats, yak down is a sustainable fiber.

The Collections

Happiness Hugs

These vibrant dog sweaters and matching women’s garments have cool names like the Sunray, the Karma and the Diamond.

SHOP THE SUNRAY ENSEMBLE

The Sunray sweater, in a gorgeous raspberry red, is handcrafted with five colors, each corresponding to an earthly element (green for wood, blue for water, red for fire, white for iron, and yellow for earth). The main color, a hue of red, is identified with heroic virtues and is worn by sword-bearing officers. White denotes purity, goodness, and nobility, so the scarves offered to lamas and used on ceremonial occasions are white.

The sweater features a sunray pattern seen in many traditional Bhutanese textiles. It represents the beam of enlightenment and stands for prosperity for all beings, equal enjoyment of freedom, and spiritual and material happiness.

SHOP THE SUNRAY SWEATER

And a matching, raspberry red shrug is a great accessory for us, to complement our dogs.

The Karma sweater, in a sunny yellow – a hot color this season – features two auspicious Bhutanese symbols, Karma and Dramey.

SHOP THE KARMA SWEATER

 

Dramey, meaning the Eternal Knot, represents a compassionate heart and reflects the belief that one’s actions and the universe are interlinked. Karma, meaning both Star and Action, also symbolizes the interconnection between our actions and the universe.

The Karma Hug is also crafted with the hues of the five symbolic colors. The main, yellow, is a color of authority and majesty, reserved for the shoulder cloths of kings and queens. Each hug features a pocket with a hand-woven traditional Bhutanese motif with a unique spiritual message.  Who would dispute that our little fur kids aren’t royalty?!

 

SHOP THE KARMA SHAWL

 

A gorgeous matching shawl for women is made by artisans in Boulder, CO. Channeling the spirit and culture of the Bhutanese, the textiles are endowed with patterns and colors that embrace the interconnection among all beings.

This shawl was designed in collaboration with Sara Goldenberg, a fine artist acclaimed for her woven art installations, including a permanent installation at the Denver Art Museum. Sara’s works of art explore the connection between past and present, traditional and modern, handmade and technological.

 

SHOP THE KARMA ENSEMBLE

The Diamond sweater also featured the five symbolic colors. The main color, purple, represents mysticism and spirituality. Blue is associated with purity and healing.

 

SHOP THE DIAMOND SWEATER

 

A beautiful matching tunic for women mixes the earthy artisanal with the stylish for a garment that won’t go out of fashion.

 

SHOP THE DIAMOND TUNIC

 

 

SHOP THE DIAMOND ENSEMBLE

 

The Earth Line of Dog Sweaters & People Scarves

This collection celebrates more earthy tones and our connection to our pets and to the Earth. There are three styles of matching dog sweaters and people scarves – The Dramey, the Thala and the Thunderbolt. Each comes in two different colors, drawing from a rich brown, a cool grey or deep black.

The Thala symbol, also known as “Khorlo” or “wheel” by some Bhutanese weavers, inspires the pattern on this luxurious scarf. It represents long life and beautifully reflects the wish to walk with our companions for years to come.  Available in two striking color combinations, the scarf features two pockets and coconut shell buttons. Each stunning piece is hand woven by artisans in Boulder, Colorado from natural, undyed, cruelty-free yak down.

 

SHOP THE THALA ENSEMBLE

 

The Dramey pattern represented on this dog coat and scarf is also known in Bhutan as the Endless Knot. With their kind souls, dog lovers perfectly embody this symbol, which reflects a compassionate heart and the belief that one’s actions and the universe are intertwined.

 

SHOP THE DRAMEY ENSEMBLE

 

SHOP THE DRAMEY SWEATER

 

The double Thunderbolt pattern, also called Vajara in Bhutanese culture, represents great wisdom and great bliss…both of which our dogs give us each and every day. This style features a distinctive natural coconut shell button.

 

SHOP THE THUNDERBOLT ENSEMBLE

 

The Collar & Leash Collection

These one-of-a-kind collars are handwoven by a group of women master weavers in Bhutan from soft, durable, eco-friendly yak down.

 

SHOP THE COLLAR & LEASH COLLECTION

All of the collars and matching leashes are modeled after the traditional Bhutanese kera, the sash that secures a woman’s kira (dress) or man’s gho (robe) at the waist.Chhuray means “water wave” in Bhutan, which is the design inspiration for this gorgeous blue and gold dog collar, featuring gold-colored brass hardware.

Bjadim means “colorful” in Bhutan, and that’s precisely what you’ll get with this collar, featuring shades of purple, cream, green and burgundy.

Dramey means “Endless Knot,” which represents a compassionate heart and the belief that one’s actions and the universe are interlinked. Handwoven from natural, undyed yak down, the Dramey Collar showcases the beautiful color variations of each animal’s coat.

 

 

All of these stunning pieces are featured in the Bark & Swagger Boutique, in its own Chews Happiness Exhibit. Just click on Shop-Exhibits.

Here’s what I like when you purchase a Chews Happiness piece:

• Each item is personally hand-selected and tested for quality and safety
• A fair wage is paid to workers in the USA and abroad
• Animals and people are treated humanely and ethically
• Sustainability is always a top priority
• They stand behind their products 100%
• The product is unique and has special meaning

I love this conscious brand and I know you will, too! Perfect for those who want conscious, cruelty-free, luxury items for their babies.

SHOP CHEWS HAPPINESS.

I love shopping; there, I’ve said it. There’ve been plenty of people in my life who haven’t been thrilled by this, but I am who I am and shopping makes me smile. Do you feel me? That’s why opening a boutique filled with garments and accessories I love is such a thrill. You’ve heard about my upscale dog boutique – the Bark & Swagger Boutique –  opening yesterday. Now, I’m going to tell you about the beautiful things in the shop and the stories behind them, because well…I love stories, too.

Yaks Giving Back from Bhutan

When I discovered Chews Happiness, it filled me with that excitement you feel when you’ve stumbled upon something oh-so-cool. Brand founders, Tavor and Meeta, are world travelers and they fell in love with Bhutan, a tiny country in the eastern part of the Himalayas. What makes Bhutan so special is this country cares deeply about its people – about their quality of life, about conscious economic development – so much so, they are the only country in the world to have a Gross National Happiness quotient. Seriously. And, they possess wonderful artisans that knit these beautiful garments. The raw material –  yak down, the finest, softest, warmest wool, coveted by master weavers, more than cashmere! Once a year, the yaks shed their outer layer and the herders collect it. Gorgeous dog sweaters and women’s shawls, shrugs and tunics are made from it under the Chews Happiness brand. Each piece is imbued with that happiness quotient energy and its color and pattern have deeper meaning about being connected to all beings and the human/animal bond. I loved the story, and I fell in love with the garments. You’ll find them all in the Boutique.

Travel and Play Ready in Miami

My dear friend, Aileen, in New York, turned me on to a company making high quality, chic active wear for women, perfect for walking your dog or traveling with them. They’re called Anatomie and are based in Miami. I went to the showroom and went gaga for so many of their pieces, my husband had a canary when he saw what I spent! But…I loved that theirs are garments that don’t need to be ironed. They are machine washable. You can roll them up to travel and they look great when you put them on. Why? The technology in the fibers responds to our body heat and all wrinkles fall away. How cool is that? Several styles are in the Boutique.

Repurposed One-of-a-Kind Cashmere

My dear friend, Margaret Konecky, and her partner, Raffi, created a wonderful brand called The Elegant Hare. They make repurposed cashmere pet sweaters, pillows, scarves for dogs and women. They are embellished with gorgeous crystals, vintage buttons or appliqués of lace or some other  fabulous trim Margaret has found on her journeys. Each garment is one of a kind. You’ll find their leopard dog sweater and matching human scarf in the Boutique, but if leopard isn’t your thing, Margaret and Raffi can make most anything for you. Just ask.

Olympic Champion Gymnast Making Beautiful Jewelry

Margaret introduced me to Dominique Moceanu, fellow Cincinnati neighbor and the Olympic gold medal champion gymnast from the Atlanta Games> Moceanu went on to develop a speaking career,  and is also a designer of beautiful jewelry for women and, now, for pets. Under Creations by C&C Dominique Moceanu Signature Collection and Crystal Couture for Pets, with partner Wendy Campbell, I’m featuring three pieces that are exclusive to the Bark & Swagger Boutique. They are made with beautiful materials and fit for a princess. Dominique and Wendy can make anything, including matching pieces for you and your dog. Explore your imagination!

Italian Design & Artistry

I came across a gorgeous, luxury dog apparel brand out of Milan a couple of years ago called Inamorada. I interviewed brand founder, Benedetta Sainaghi, for my radio show and kept up with her. The pieces she designs and makes are purely Italian – wonderful tailoring, highest quality materials and chic, European styling. I’ve chosen a few I think you’ll love; I definitely do.

Your Dog can Look Chic and Be Calm at the Same Time

A dear friend turned me on to a new brand out of Chicago called Heavenly Beasts. I loved what I saw on their site and reached out to Laura Keivan, the brand founder. Laura has designs wonderful capes for dogs! And, she’s taken it even further. All Heavenly Beasts items come with a good-looking brass Heavenly Beasts Charm that houses aromatherapy “Cloud” inserts. Her cloud inserts are all-natural, human-grade, essential oils that create a cloud of calming scent around your dog. They’re great for traveling, parties, or to simply calm down an over-active dog. Laura’s capes and a wonderful water-resistant waxy twill and red plaid coat called the Barbour Waxy Classic are in the Boutique.

Custom Beading and Bridal Leather, Oh Yeah!

My friend, Mona Straub, who I met via a wonderful organization called Women in the Pet Industry Network, makes unusual, very beautiful hand-beaded pet collars, leashes and belts for us under the brand, Just Fur Fun. She has many designs and colors, or, you can create a one of a kind yourself. The leather for the pieces is burnished and beautiful, bridal leather that wears so well and gets better with age. Mona is also a foster dog mom. She is very involved in shelter, Dachshund Rescue South Florida,  and has been fostering and orchestrating adoptions for years. We love that!

The Best Boots Ever

I met Karyn Pek of PoochieBoots online, and thought she had the coolest idea of well-fitting, finely made dog boots with interchangeable straps. I went to her studio on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and saw all of the possibilities. For the first time, dog parents had an alternative to boring balloon boots, clunky boots or Outward Bound-looking boots. Your pup could express a mood; going from Chanel-inspired to glittery glam, from holiday to superhero…the sky is the limit in the different straps that are available and will be available on PoochieBoots. I loved that! And, a percentage of each boot sold, goes to animal rescue.

Luxury Haute Collar Accessory

Finally, I had to have my baby, Couture by Sophie represented. Our red and blue velvet Haute Collars are so popular, I thought they were perfect for this Holiday season.

If you really love anything you see,  buy it. The art gallery aspect to the Boutique means that every few months, I will be taking down what’s there, and putting up new designers I’ve found and want to share. The objects that went before will be gone. I kind of like that; each piece has a place in time and, like fashion, time moves forward with new pieces, new designers, new trends and inspirations.

Shop the Bark & Swagger Boutique and take advantage of a 10% thank you gift coupon off of your purchase with the code OPENING10  at checkout.

What strikes your fancy?

Kathy Ireland and Elizabeth Taylor, with one of her beloved Maltese

You may wonder what former supermodel and current business mogul, Kathy Ireland, and the iconic Elizabeth Taylor have in common. Inspiration. Read on to find out how one honors the other in a new pet product collection.

Hers may be the world’s 28th most licensed brand and more successful than Martha Stewart’s, but in front of a roomful of femmeprenuers at Global Pet Expo recently, Kathy Ireland’s eyes flashed with sassy glee. She’s telling a story about overcoming adversity, something Ireland has done many times in her life. Seems that at age 11, she began her first job – a paper route –  after writing the paper to say she was the girl for the job. But, everyone didn’t feel that way.  Back then, the naysayers claimed Kathy was trespassing in a boy’s world,  and it just wouldn’t work. She insisted she could do it as well as any boy, and she pedaled her heavy papers, rain or shine. She even rode up a big hill every day to deliver to this one very ornery man. He would yell at her, telling her she’d never make it, but the spirit she’d nurtured in herself as that young girl is very evident today in this grown woman’s eyes. “I held that route for 3 1/2 years,” Ireland relayed proudly. “And each year, I won the carrier award for my district. It taught me not to quit. Many years later, I’m still the girl with the paper route.”

And that probably says it best. An approachable, savvy woman who has learned not to let anyone’s opinion of her define who she is, Kathy Ireland has transcended what many thought was possible for a supermodel. And, she’s done it her way. Since launching her brand with a pair of socks in 1993, Ireland has designed over 15,000 products, available in 50 countries, in categories that all offer solutions –  for families, especially busy moms; for business people and for people in love. kathy ireland Worldwide® (kiWW) has annual sales exceeding 2 billion, with Forbes calling her the “prototype for model-turned-mogul,” and British Vogue proclaiming her the world’s richest model. She’s  managed this transformation so well, becoming exceptionally successful at marketing and selling to middle America, that licensers and other brands around the world are only too happy to find a way to partner.

Because there’s nothing the girl can’t do, Kathy’s latest foray is into the world of pets, with licensing partner and pet industry leader, Worldwise®.  Called kathy ireland’s Loved Ones, she’s offering pet families a home decor-friendly, tasteful and high quality collection of beds, collars, leashes, accessories and toys. Entering the pet space was inspired by her 12 year old pup, Sparky. I previewed some of the Loved Ones‘ items at a brand launch press conference at Global, and had the opportunity to briefly interview Kathy and Worldwise CEO, Kevin Fick. I noticed that they offer several different styles of beds and asked why. “We want pets to be welcome in any room of the home,” Ireland explained. “Having worked for so many years in home goods, we wanted to bring those palettes, those types of designs into the pet space, and feel it’s going to draw everyone [in the family] together.”  Ireland’s philosophy that “life is messy,” is something we can all relate to, and she has made it her mission to find or create products that are inclusive for all family members, furry ones included.  Kevin Fick added about the beds, “Dogs and cats like to get under the covers. When u think about separation anxiety, let’s say, a lot of products are designed around using a personal article of clothing, so you’ll see someone take a shirt and put it in that enclosure (referring to the Pillow Hideout Bed style), and it’s perfect.”

Kathy & her Sparky

Other styles of beds include the patented Cuddle Cube Pet Bed©, which enables our pups to sink cozily into the bed, without it spilling over and losing its structure; the Quilted Pet Bed with Lounge Mat features a quilted bed base with a reversible mat inside, which looked classic and chic. This style of bed can be used as is, or upgraded using a cool Mix & Match feature, whereby we can match the bed style with the sleeping style of our dogs. The Tailor Made Gusseted Pet Bed is a bit higher end, appointed with upholstery-like details (the word “gusseted gave that away, right?); and the Constant Comfort Bolstered Pet Bed gives comfort and support for both the body and the head, possibly working very well for seniors or for those who need a bit more support. I could see the attention to detail in these pieces. And I love that all the covers are removable for easy cleaning in the machine. The beds retail from between $40.00‑$180.00, so that’s not too bad.

The collection of leashes, collars and accessories have a classic, timeless look,  and offer interesting details, like the Tag Silencer© to quiet the jangling of i.d. tags, as well as an easy attach leash ring which makes it simple to put a leash on an excited pet. The Tag Silencer is a great one for us, because that jangling sometimes drives me a little crazy. 🙂 The leashes also feature a shock absorber to help eliminate strain from a dog that pulls, a feature a few companies are doing now and one that I’m sure dog moms, and even dads, appreciate. These retail from $8.00‑$30.00, again, a reasonable price point.

I was especially intrigued by the collection within a collection called Gracie and Delilah®. Kathy shared that Elizabeth Taylor was a mentor to her and they were very close. A staunch animal lover and one who “had a way with animals,” relayed Ireland, Liz came to Kathy with a very special request when she was nearing the end of her life. Taylor asked Ireland if she would take her two beloved Maltese, Gracie and Delilah, and care for them when she passed. Kathy and her family not only took the two babies in, and have them to this day, but she honored her dear friend by naming this luxury collection after them. The Gracie and Delilah® collection features products for both dogs and cats with luxury fabrics, detailing and some sparkle and shine. Perfect for

Gracie & Delilah
Product Wall at Global
photo: Jody Miller-Young

La Liz!

Other collection categories include travel accessories and mealtime. In travel, it’s basic things you might want on a trip with your pooch, but each item solves a problem and each is done in a high quality, timeless way. A Reversible Travel Mat unrolls to a double sided, durable mat with quilted padding, providing a comfortable place to rest in the car or a hotel; a stylish Travel Tote to carry smaller pets, and waterproof Travel Bowls that fold flat, with a protective flap at the top to protect the it from dirt and debris. These retail from $20.00‑90.00.

For mealtime, they offer sturdy, nice-looking dishwasher safe ceramic bowls, with metallic gold detailing (I love that); furniture pieces like the Grow with Me Adjustable Feeder for dogs, that adjusts in height as your pet grows older and the Double Diner with Storage Drawer, which has handy storage drawer for your dog’s toys. Both furniture feeding options feature removable stainless steel bowls with silicone gaskets (to prevent drips) for easy cleaning. Retails range $5.00‑130.00.

I liked the kathy ireland Loved Ones pet collection and I think, like her other solutions-based products, this will be very popular. But even more than that, I really liked Kathy. Her warm, friendly and very open demeanor, coupled with her business savvy, makes her someone other femmepreneurs aspire to. As a wildly successful former supermodel, you also have to figure the girl knows a thing about style. What a powerful combination. And, Kathy Ireland’s paper route is far from over.

The kathy ireland Loved Ones pet collection will be available this summer. Stay tuned here for details on where.

Do you have a favorite kathy ireland Loved Ones bed? Share which one with me in the Comments below.

Patchwork Bed
photo courtesy of Worldwise

Green Lounger
photo courtesy of Worldwise

Reversible Travel Mat
photo courtesy of Worldwise

The Gorgeous
Quilted Lounger
photo courtesy of Worldwise