handmade designer pet accessories

Owner and Creator of Dog Envie, Lakisha “La” Ridley, has always had a love for animals, especially canines. She aspired to combine her loves of dogs, travel, and fashion to launch a line of handmade designer pet accessories.

Today, she hopes her brand will evoke a feeling and appreciation for the relationship fostered between pet and owner. I connected with Ridley to learn more about bringing her vision to life and the success of the company’s inaugural collection. 

On carving out her own space in the pet accessories marketplace:

“Our first collection is inspired by the beauty of African wax print cotton fabrics. Also known as Ankara and Batik, these fabrics are very durable and create some of the most beautiful designs in the world. The concept of using these prints to create ‘Collars of Art’ was natural after falling in love with print-inspired gifts from a friend who recently traveled to Ivory Coast in Western Africa. The versatility and boldness of the prints and their ability to make a fashion statement attracted me to do something different. Every single one is cut from the same cloth, but is totally one of a kind and unique. 

This is what sets us apart with our launch and we will continue to seek ways to stand out and be a brand that people and dogs love.”

On the brand’s successful launch: 

“We currently have four prints in our launch collection, selected to highlight the various colors and shades of our canine friends. We initially launched on Etsy with only the collars and they are all equally doing well, which is a good sign that we have something for everyone! Since launching the site, our bandanas are doing well too.”

On plans for the future: 

“We will be looking for some new dynamic prints in the coming months and expanding to create matching leashes. I would really like to find a great print with some purple in homage and in honor of the heroes we have lost this year, both Kobe Bryant and Chadwick Boseman. We are also exploring ways to show our support of women, the Black Lives Matter movement, and voting. We will expand eventually into all natural grooming products in the next year.” 

Follow Dog Envie on Instagram for more.