Back from New York, where “almost all dogs are dressed,” Boulud Celine, a young designer Lyon, has just launched in canine fashion, hoping that this niche remains largely unexploited in France will soon allow him to live his talent.
It was during an internship at a fashion house in New York during his studies that the designer of 24 years has discovered how “fashionable dog (was) popular in the U.S.,” leading country market.
In New York, which stands for three years a “Pet Fashion Week” very popular, “there are shops in every corner. And dogs are almost all dressed,” says she.
Dogs, “but also rabbits and hamsters, have the same right to their place for Halloween!” Says the young woman.
Convinced that this mode will end up coming, even belatedly, in France, with its market of eight million pets, she decides to make the heart of his project graduation at the Esmod (college of arts and techniques of fashion) in Lyon.
Everything comes together: the creation of its small business status through self-contractor, trademarking “BonChic GoodDog” validation of his degree and, icing on the cake, obtained in July of the first prize ex-aequo contest “Talents Fashion” presented by the fashion designer Chantal Thomass, which allows him to receive one year of free rent for his store.
“Talents Fashion” welcomes “the coherence of its business plan + + and its positioning in a niche, an emerging market and a future.”
The young designer is however for the time being forced to keep his job as a telemarketer at halftime, waiting to live her sewing.
That day, Edgar, a Chihuahua, is entering the lovely boutique studio located in the “Village of the creators, a group of shops” bobo “on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse in Lyon city center.
Celine Boulud takes measures for a winter coat while the master Edgar Merkan Rashid, a dog groomer, said his desire to “customize” the wardrobe of his dog, trying on a jacket decorated leatherette a collar coat at 150 euros and a tracksuit to 75 euros.
On the wall are exposed navy sweaters, overalls, dress in jeans and lace …
On its website (www.bonchicbonchien.com), Celine Boulud will soon propose an overview of his collection but also to buy online.
It provides be “the only one in France to do everything from A to Z, from design to sale. Each model is thus produced in limited edition on her sewing machine installed behind the counter of his shop.
While some shops selling Japanese or American brands exist, notably in Paris, the French luxury brands, usually advanced accessories, have slipped in this little niche.
Only Louis Vuitton and Hermes offer bags, leashes and collars for dogs from their wealthy clients.
“My difference with the competition is that I am the tailor-made,” says the designer who does not, however, dress up his jack-russell’s creations.
Tags: a dog groomer, BonChic GoodDog, Boulud Celine, canine fashion, Chantal Thomass, Chihuahua, Croix-Rousse, Edgar, Edgar Merkan Rashid, Esmod, fashion designer, fashionable dog, French luxury brands, Halloween, Hermès, jack-russell's, Louis Vuitton, Pet Fashion Week, Talents Fashion