Help your pets spread the spirit of Christmas

Outlook News - Sunday December 23, 2007

PET PROJECTS

FUN FOR ALL

Help your pets spread the spirit of Christmas

Story by CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN, Photos by SUCHADA HONGSA

Juralrat Ubolchart lets her imagination run wild as Christmas draws near. Recently, her efforts paid off in the form of striking canine costumes designed for the forthcoming festive season.

Traditionally, Christmas conjures images of Father Christmas, a chubby man in a red and white outfit. And when it comes to dog clothes for Christmas, Father Christmas costumes might be strictly for the guys. So Juralrat came up with the idea of Christmas dresses for the "girls".

This year, her dog collection focuses on the theme "Happiness for Christmas", and is divided into three ranges: Santa Mareena, Gift and Santa Claus. The first two are for female dogs, while the last is strictly for the boys. As expected, her 2007 dog fashions are grabbing the attention of dog enthusiasts and fashion lovers alike.

"The Christmas season is a happy time for people. It's also fun for dogs that have the chance to celebrate the festivities with their master or mistress, and I'd like to give happiness to both people and animals," said the dog fashion designer.

Her shop, located in Chatuchak Weekend Market, has been crowded with both dogs and their owners looking for the latest Christmas clothes so they can celebrate together.

"Many dog owners enjoy dressing their pets with Christmas-themed clothing when the season arrives. It's great fun when they put the clothes on their dogs, and it seems that the dogs are happy with their new clothes," said Juralrat.

Juralrat's dog fashions for Christmas first came out last year, when she wanted to design some Christmas clothes for her Jack Russell terrier. Her first dog fashions sold like hot cakes since they were unique and for special occasions, and Juralrat received huge orders at her shop before the season started. Last year's collection was in four colours - beige, red, green and white.

"Last year I had no particular concept, since I simply wanted to do it for fun. But when I got flooded with orders I realised that many dog owners wanted to dress their pets in Christmas clothes," she recalled.

So what started as a hobby became a lucrative business. Juralrat used her experience last year as a guide to improve her designs for this Christmas. The most popular item last year was the Father Christmas suit, complete with red hood, but Juralrat received some feedback about that from her customers.

"Some dogs were happy to wear the shirt but not the hood, while others enjoyed wearing the hood but not the shirt. But the main problem was that the hood and the shirt were designed as one piece. So I redesigned the collection with a detachable cap for this Christmas," she said.

Her latest designs come in only three shades - red, white and green, the traditional colours of Christmas. Santa Mareena features a red blouse and skirt, with white dots suggesting snow. The clothes also have long white strings, signifying the reins on the deer that pull Father Christmas' sleigh. The Gift collection is all in green. The Santa Claus dress is like the original, coupled with a cute Christmas stocking cap. All designs can be worn by dogs of all sizes, and Juralrat explained that the golden rule of her designs is that all dogs must be comfortable while wearing her clothes.

"The designs must fit the dogs' bodies. For example, sleeves must be wide enough so the dogs can walk comfortably. Too much decoration or ornamentation can bother them. As well as being attractive, dog clothes must be comfortable to wear," she said.

When it comes to materials, Juralrat selects everything herself. The clothing is made from pure cotton because it is most durable. Juralrat said that if kept properly, her dog clothes will last for 10 or 12 years, for the whole life of a dog. And to make sure the colours stay bright, all her outfits are washed first to ensure the colour does not run. Apart from their unique and trendy looks, Juralrat's canine costumes are famous for their quality, and she checks all the finished garments closely before displaying them in her shop.

"I care about quality. Pet lovers are willing to pay for high quality dog products ... it's a small way to show their love for their pet. So when they buy clothes for their dog they are looking for something worthwhile and durable. I pay special attention to all the materials used in my designs," said Juralrat.

Juralrat regularly creates new designs, meaning that pet owners can look for the latest trends in her shop. She can create up to five or six items a week.

"I focus on fashionable costumes, not simply dog clothes. So my designs must be unique and not similar to those found in other shops. I am not selling mass-produced items, so each design is produced only in small quantities. When it's sold out I will not reproduce it," she said.

Although Juralrat realises that people in the fashion arena, whether human or canine, must be dynamic and keep themselves abreast of the latest trends, she sometimes comes to a dead end and feels that her well of imagination has run dry, forcing her to stop designing for a while.

But she said her own dog always inspires her to keep forging ahead.

"Whenever I see my dog it inspires me to continue my work and create more eye-catching clothes for dogs. I don't care so much for the total sales figures. What I do care about is my customers liking my designs and their dogs looking pretty in my dresses. That's all," she said.

At the end of the day, Juralrat said she is often overwhelmed by the delight with which her special outfits are received by their four-legged recipients, who now can look even more fantastic in one of her specially-made Christmas costumes.

"I hope all dogs and their owners are happy this Christmas," she concluded.

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