A newly launched British fashion house dedicated exclusively to dogs has debuted online and is seeking space for a physical store in Palm Beach.
Chloe King London, a dog-focused luxury label developed by London native and author Eddie King, offers handcrafted leather collars and accessories made in England using traditional luxury leatherworking techniques.
King, who recently relocated from London to Palm Beach, said he created the brand to bring a more focused approach to canine accessories.
“We’re not a pet brand, rather a fashion house that just happens to cater to dogs,” King told the Daily News.
The brand’s debut collection features handcrafted leather collars, including designs in fine Italian leathers as well as exotic materials such as ostrich and alligator. It also includes matching leads and coordinating accessories, along with a hands-free lead system that connects to a wrist cuff worn by the owner.
King said the pieces were designed to be more than practical pet accessories, describing them as luxury goods instead.
He noted the matching lead-and-cuff system allows owners to coordinate with their dogs.
“You, as the wearer and the dog owner, can match with your dog rather than your dog trying to match with you,” King said. “And it also makes it hands free, which is convenient when you are carrying a coffee or a phone or something.”
King said the idea for the brand came from his own dog, a Maltese named Chloe, who serves as the inspiration behind the company. He said he saw an opportunity to create a different kind of product category for dogs as they have become increasingly central to family life.
“Dogs occupy a rather unusual place in our lives, in our hearts, and that’s changed a lot over the years,” he said. “They’ve gone from the garden onto the sofa and into the center of the bed. They’re sort of seen as part of the family now, and they’re often the most important part of the family. I felt there was room for something more considered in the luxury space.”
Chloe King London was developed over the past two years and launched in early June. While sales are currently online, King said he is actively exploring locations in Palm Beach for a future store, with Worth Avenue and Royal Poinciana Plaza among the areas under consideration. He hopes to open a storefront within the next six months.
Such a space, he added, would be designed to offer a different kind of shopping experience than a traditional retail boutique.
“We don’t want just a boutique where we just throw up some collars and hang some leads,” he said. “It’s going to be a curated more like a gallery experience.”
King said the early response to the brand since debuting online has been encouraging.
“I think it’s just the sort of launch we could have hoped for,” he said. “I think people are really taking to it. I always felt that there wasn’t anything in the market at this level, and it’s nice to hear that echoed from other people, because I truly believed it.”
King said Palm Beach was a natural fit for the brand because of its focus on detail and tradition.
“I think it’s a place where I’ve seen people genuinely appreciate quality, craftsmanship and personal service,” he said. “We offer private consultations; we’ll come and size and measure your dog and suggest colors. It’s more like a tailoring appointment you would have for a bespoke suit.”
More information about Chloe King London is available at ChloeKingLondon.com.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Luxury dog fashion house launches online, plans Palm Beach boutique
Reporting by Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
