Dressing up your furry friends is one of fashion’s latest trends.
Whether it’s collars, ID tags, glasses or full-on outfits, the pet fashion industry is on the rise.
According to a report from Fortune Business Insights, the pet clothing industry grew by approximately 8% in 2020, reaching a staggering market size of $5.1 billion by the end of the year.
Even some of Hollywood’s biggest names are getting into the trend. Singer and actress Miley Cyrus occasionally shares photos of her seven dogs and two pet pigs dressed in hats, bandanas and other apparel. Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Simone Biles occasionally coordinates outfits for her two French bulldogs, Lilo and Rambo.
But when did pet fashion start and how far has it come?
The use of decorative collars for domesticated dogs can be traced all the way back to ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Persian cultures. These necklaces were often studded with gold, silver and turquoise and were more than just something to attach a leash to; they were symbols of wealth and power.
Pet fashion advanced beyond basic leashes and collars when European royal families began adorning their pups with luxurious collars, lavish beds, and even personal servants. Dressing up pets became a more universal practice during the Renaissance period with the creation of pet clothing made out of cheaper materials like leather.
Today, pet clothing is most commonly used for events like Halloween and Christmas, but some people choose to dress up their pets more regularly.
Indianapolis resident Marilyn Blackwell is one of those people. Marilyn’s dog Lucy, an 8-year-old Yorkie, has been dressed up in coats, dresses and bows all of her life.
“We got Lucy in July or August and we had the air conditioning on and she was shivering,” Marilyn says. “I had some leftover clothes from my other Yorkie and I started putting them on her. I think she likes the warmth of them.”
Although keeping Lucy warm and comfortable is the main priority, Marilyn says it’s also fun to dress her up in the latest styles and see people’s reactions.
“People comment about how cute she is and I think she likes that part of it as much as we do,” says Marilyn, who is a strong supporter of the pet clothing trend.
Although it is growing in popularity, pet fashion has received a fair amount of criticism, as well, especially from animal rights activists and organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
PETA recommends all pet owners ask a few essential questions in regards to pet costumes: Do they restrict movement? Are they comfortable for your pet? Are they necessary for your animal’s well-being? The use of protective coats for small dogs in cold weather, for example, is a less-debated form of pet fashion.
Tammy Brummett is another supporter of the pet fashion movement. Tammy regularly dresses up her two cats, Zero and Wesley, for the holidays. To her, it’s all about the looks. The cats’ wardrobes range from Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses to ties and tuxedos. Tammy’s oldest cat, Zero, has been getting dressed since he was first brought home as a kitten on Christmas day.
“We used to buy (Zero’s) clothes at Build-A-Bear, but now he wears large dog clothes,” says Tammy, who is an accountant for Beck Toyota. “He loves to pose for pictures.”
Whether it’s a light-up American flag patterned onesie for the Fourth of July or a luxury Fendi fur baby coffee dog sweater, it’s impawssible to predict what trend will be next in the furry fashion industry.
