Actor Maya Stojan rockin’ a Rescue Me Tote w/Mr. Truffles inside;
paparazzi not far behind
This is my, hands down, fave rave carry bag for Sophie for Spring. Once I saw it…hadda have it. 🙂 It’s like no other bag I’ve seen and, besides being the cutest thing ever, it’s practical! Ladies, how often do we find fabulous that’s practical? I’ve highlighted this distinctive designer dog bag, called the Rescue Me Tote, on Bark and Swagger before, however, savvy designer, by way of Hollywood actress, Jeanne Chinn, has a number of great pieces under her JCLA Boutique umbrella. Add adorable matching people/pet tee’s and more to distinctive designer dog bags and you’ve got the recipe for a ferocious fashion brand. I talked to Chinn about her inspiration. Let’s take a look at what Jeanne’s doing and why, at Bark and Swagger, we’re loving it.
A bit of backstory…
Jeanne’s always been crazy for cats, and the story of JCLA began with an inexpensive, vinyl purse she’d bought, featuring a kitty silhouette. “People really loved this bag, and kept stopping to ask me where to get it and did they have a dog one?” Jeanne relayed. “After enough people asked, I even looked in their catalogue and all they had was a cat and a crying baby. Who would want to buy a crying baby?! But no dog.” Some people would get downright specific, telling Jeanne they’d like to buy one with a Chihuahua on it. Jeanne described, “I’d say, ‘Yeah, that’d be great; I love Chihuahuas, too. But, I’m an actor!'” And, that was that.
This went on for years, and no one ever made the bag. “I’m a creative person and thought if I did it, even though I have no idea how, I would want a lining I could remove and wash, I’d want it to be plush, I’d want lots of compartments to put my stuff, and I’d put little feet at the bottom,” Chinn explained. Her kitty bag was worn out, Jeanne was feeling restless creatively, so she did just that, and JCLA was born. And, aren’t we lucky!
The interview…
BaS: Who is the typical JCLA customer?
Mr. Truffles resting in his Rescue Me Tote
JC: We’re selling a lifestyle, and it’s what i’m surrounded by here in LA, everyday. Women who appreciate fine things and attention to detail. People who want something a bit different than what’s available out there. Ours is definitely a higher end product. Its the women I see who love their dogs, who are their babies, and I’ve seen them in New York, Chicago, Miami and lots of other places, too.
BaS: So, the very first bag was a silhouette of a Chihuahua? Also, that would make sense because your fur baby is a rescue Chi/Min Pin mix named Mr. Truffles, right?
JC: Yes, it was. Mr. Truffles is right here sleeping in his Rescue Me Tote. I’ve been traveling a lot and have three Rescue Me Totes on the floor at the moment. One is his, one is mine and one I just grabbed because I had so much to carry. Truffles has made the rounds and slept in each of them! [laughs]
BaS: After years of hearing from people about how much they wanted a dog and, more specifically, a Chihuahua dog silhouette bag, what was it like for you when the first one got made?
JC: When I saw it come out of the factory, it was really emotional. The man whose factory I used said, ‘My daughter hates all of the bags I make. She walked in and saw this one and said, “Dad,you finally made a bag that I would carry!” You really have something here.’ So, that was a great thing to hear!
BaS: What was the inspiration for those gorgeous, unusual, signature gold paws on the bottom of your bags?
JC: It was my cats! I love my cats’ paws! I’d had cats for over a decade when I started the company, and because people were clamoring for this dog bag, I started studying the shape of a dog’s paw. I actually had a sculptor create what I thought could be either a cat or a dog’s paw, because I wanted to offer both a dog and a cat silhouette options on the bags.
BaS: And you do. Tell us what silhouettes are available on the Rescue Me Totes
Sophie’s Rescue Me Bag
JC: We offer the Chihuahua called the Te Quiero, the I Love New Yorkie, the Snotty Scottie, the Pampered Poodle, the Majestic Maltese, the Foxy Pom, and a Doggie Style that looks like a hound.
BaS: And 10% of profits of the Rescue Me Tote go to animal rescue groups, right?
JC: Yes, we give to several rescue groups.
BaS: I love that you can remove the lining and wash it! What inspired that idea?
JC: It was really women’s purses. It was always frustrating to me that the linings of my favorite bags would get dirty and I wasn’t able to clean them properly. I also wasn’t ready to dispose of the bag. So, I thought, making a detachable lining that is washable was a must, especially for a pet carrier. We have two. For days when your pet wants to cuddle up in something soft and furry, we have the leopard, micro mink lining. On warmer days when a lighter lining is more appropriate, we have the signature JCLA cotton lining.
BaS: Very cool! I also love your Bond Girl Smuggler carry bags, and your new faux leather Rescue Me bags!
JC: [laughing] Yes, those bags came from my customers saying, ‘I love the canvas bag, but I travel a lot and need a bag to be closed on top.’ So, that led me to create the faux leather Rescue Me that does close. And, wow, are there a lot of sneaky women out there! That’s how the Bond Girl Smuggler bag came about! We’ve got these hot women who are all smugglin’ their pups into places, who want purses where they can take their dog wherever they want. They have lots of compartments so you don’t need to carry two bags.
Bond Girl Smuggler
in Brown
BaS: I know the feeling! I can’t stand it when I can’t take Sophie with me. And what a catchy name for the Smuggler bag. Love that!
BaS: Sophie is a long girl, like a Dachshund. The canvas Rescue Me Tote works well. What about a bag I can take on the plane?
JC: We have the Bond Girl Smuggler Deluxe. It’s 19″, so it should fit most small dogs up to 16 lbs. That’s our best-selling bag and I’ve taken it on the plane alot. The faux leather is soft and the bag is a bit slouchy with some structure, so it fits under the airline seat.
BaS: Jeanne, you have other items you make that are so adorable and comfy, too. Tell us about the silhouette hoodies and tee’s for pups and matching tee’s and lounge pants for us.
JC: The crystal apparel for dogs came shortly after the silhouette bag was created. I really listen to my customers and they tell me what they need. And we do it! Love for the silhouette bags led to them saying they wanted a little tee shirt. My customers love bling and something a little extra special. So, I had the silhouette crystalized, and they’re now on little dog hoodies, tank tops and dresses. I’ve had women buy the bag, and then have their Chihuahua wearing the Chihuahua silhouette hoodie and the woman has on the matching V-neck, long-sleeved Chihuahua top. They’re walking down the street and it’s adorable!
JC: With the lounge pants, I don’t really go for the sweat pants thing. So, to have a pair of lower rise, comfy, drawstring lounge pants with a little crystal silhouette on the hip is a bit dressier than a sweat pant, and also shows your love for your dog. They come in red, white and black. They’ve been very popular. We offer Yorkie and Poodle silhouette options, too.
BaS: I really love the fabric. It’s soft and has just the right amount of stretch to keep its shape.
JC: Yes. We’re expanding the collection to include animal silhouettes on purse hanger keychains, on cellphone screen cleaning cloths; they’re going to be appearing on different items.
Crystal Collection
Dog Tanks
BaS: Anything in the works right now you’d want to share with us?
JC: I am working on a lighter weight bag that retains the quality and comfort of the other bags, so stay tuned!
I know I will! I can’t wait to see what the talented Jeanne Chinn has up her well-designed sleeve.
What do you think of the Rescue Me Tote? Do you have a favorite carry bag for your pup? Tell me about it in the Comments below.
(Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bitch New York and Posh Puppy Boutique. For more information, please go to our Disclaimer & Disclosure page on this site. Thank you!)
The Rescue Me Faux Leather Bags
Bond Girl Smuggler Deluxe
in Black
