On the dogwalk
Why should humans have all the fun? With next month’s Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival front of mind, it got us wondering what the best-dressed local pooches are sporting.
Fashion is about style, sure. It’s about expressing personality, but it’s also about keeping warm, dry, comfortable, safe, and more. When it comes to your dog’s style, just because it’s functional doesn’t mean it can’t look great. Here in Canterbury, we have plenty of small business owners and entrepreneurs who make beautiful clothing and accessories for dogs, including Pointer & Hound, Arctic Sammy, and Macdog Coats.
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Return of the mac
The founder of Macdog Coats, Lexy, says her first dog coat was made from an old towel.
How did it all start?
About eight years ago, my daughter got a Viszla puppy named Mac and he hated going out in the cold. The poor wee pup would stand trembling at the doorway. So we went online and found a pattern for a dog coat. I made it with an old towel! Then I progressed to polar fleece. People started asking where we got them. My daughter set up a Facebook page and Macdog coats was born.
Who are your clients?
I make all my coats to order, to each dog’s individual measurements. I’ve made coats for every size dog from the huge (Irish Wolfhounds) to the tiny (Chihuahuas) and everything in between. I made a raincoat for a llama calf once.
What are your coats made of?
I make the coats from double-layered polar fleece and I make the raincoats from a waterproof fabric called PU. The rain coats have three layers – the outer layer is waterproof, the middle layer is polar fleece, and the inside layer is nylon for ease of cleaning. They come in three different styles and have Velcro fastenings.
How long does a coat take?
Once a new customer contacts me, I send them a measurement guide. It takes about two to three weeks from when I get the measurements. Customers can reach me through the Macdog Coats Facebook page or via email at macdogcoats@gmail.com.
