Among the Christmas gifts packed and stored under the tree with inside for example sweaters, sweatshirts, coats, jackets, vests and raincoats, attention because they may not necessarily be gifts dedicated to the "humans" of the house. In fact, more and more often items such as clothes and accessories dedicated to 4-legged friends end up among the gifts: it is the
"dog-à-porter" mania
, a global phenomenon that is already influencing the choice of gifts for millions of people. in Italy and in the world. Suffice it to say that, according to an article published by the US magazine Artful Living, the global market for dog clothes and accessories will increase from 9.7 billion dollars raised in 2020 to 16.6 billion in 2028, with a record growth. by over 70%.
The trend has already conquered social media, and promises to become even more viral in the coming weeks: on Instagram, in fact, the hashtag #dogfashion has already totaled almost 2.5 million posts. As evidence of a constantly growing trend, thematic events such as the New York Pet Fashion Show in Manhattan and the Furbabies Dog Pageant held in Great Britain are increasingly successful. But, beyond appearances, this trend is not just a mere question of look and “instagrammability”. In fact, with the arrival of the snow and the great cold, according to experts, suitable heating or heat-insulating clothes can represent a help for 4-legged friends, especially taking into account important variables such as the breed of the dog, the type of hair and the presence of the undercoat that regulates its isolation, size and age,in addition to physical activity for which you wear a coat or an ad hoc sweater.
According to Emi Nava, founder of Bullfit Fashion (bullfitfashion.com/it) and expert in the sector of clothing and accessories for dogs, in fact "Dressing up your dog, for example your English bulldog or French bulldog, is not just a matter fashionable, but above all a necessity to prevent our friends from suffering from colds which can become very serious considering the predisposition of these breeds to respiratory diseases. In this period the demand for garments to protect them increases up to 45% - explains Emi Nava - Comfortable hooded sweatshirts and fleece with camouflage prints with natural colors, solid colors with contrasting edges, white and red that recall the Christmas period with a explosion of hearts for city walks, warm duvets for those who will go to the mountains,but also neck warmers that are often purchased in conjunction with the owners. All the garments are studied in the smallest details and hand-made in made in Italy laboratories that guarantee quality and ethics. The ability to customize each garment with the name of your bulldog is the latest trend that drives owners crazy because they feel they are pampering their best friend even more. "There are also brands that offer clothing for dog and owner in perfect harmony. .The ability to customize each garment with the name of your bulldog is the latest trend that drives owners crazy because they feel they are pampering their best friend even more. "There are also brands that offer clothing for dog and owner in perfect harmony. .The ability to customize each garment with the name of your bulldog is the latest trend that drives owners crazy because they feel they are pampering their best friend even more. "There are also brands that offer clothing for dog and owner in perfect harmony. .
An explosion in sales also supported by VIPs and influencers. In fact, there are many Italian and international stars who have let themselves be infected by this trend: from Chiara Ferragni, who dresses her Matilda with always fashionable clothes for every season, to Elena Santarelli, who has recently portrayed Neve with a warm sweater on her social networks , up to Lewis Hamilton, the exceptional designer of the bulldog Roscoe and Paris Hilton, pet-fashionista par excellence. It goes even further People, which reports a survey according to which 24% of dog owners usually dress like their dog in matchy-matchy mode. Queen Elizabeth a few years ago was portrayed posing at the Madame Tussauds wax museum in London together with the whole royal family and the inevitable Corgi wearing the "Christmas Jumper",the typical holiday sweater considered by the English to be a true must-have for Christmas (do you remember the legendary Bridget Jones reindeer sweater?), now very fashionable here too. Returning to the present day, the singer Elettra Lamborghini also thought, on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas holidays and the launch of her latest single, to dress up as Santa Claus, combining the look with that of her inseparable dog.to dress up as Santa Claus by combining the look with that of his inseparable dog.to dress up as Santa Claus by combining the look with that of his inseparable dog.
But health, in addition to the eye, also wants its part. The importance at the level of pet care linked to "dog-a-can" clothes is a thought shared also by veterinarians. "No dog can stay outside in very cold temperatures without adequate shelter: coats and boots can help protect dogs from the cold, ice and salt: if they will tolerate them, I think it's a good idea, especially for short-haired dogs. , very thin and elderly, "says Dr. Sandi Sawchuk, a veterinarian at the University of Winsconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. According to Dr. Reid Groman, a veterinarian at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, most breeds are fine with their hairy coats, true "natural coats": however,some breeds may be more comfortable in cold weather with a sweater, such as "toy breeds", or those with particularly short hair, such as greyhounds, may benefit more from an outdoor coat, or even indoors with low temperatures. Older dogs with weakened immune systems or diseases that could impact hair, such as hypothyroidism, might also enjoy winter clothing.could enjoy winter clothing.could enjoy winter clothing.
The “dog-à-porter” is therefore an unstoppable phenomenon halfway between style and well-being which, starting from the ad hoc lines created by major international fashion houses, is also going to revolutionize the figure of pet-influencers. The Financial Times took an interest in this issue, with an article dedicated to Canadian Tika the Iggy, a 9-year-old Italian greyhound from Montreal with over 1 million followers on Instagram, who got thousands of likes for his photos in sweaters at braids with pompoms, soft sweatshirts and feathered capes. In the same article, the authoritative economic newspaper reports a truly eloquent data: a British chain of department stores has revealed that sales of dog coats have increased by 420% compared to last year, while those of dog sweaters have reached a peak. record of + 2.200%.Data that, if combined with those reported by PetPedia, the wikipedia of pets, according to which over 50% of dog owners give a Christmas gift to their pet and as many as 40% have bought clothes for their pet, underline how under the tree this year you can find a sea of surprises… Fit for 4 legs
