FASHION IS MORE THAN FUR DEEP

BY SONIA HENRY

Pagerie’s founder, Mandy Madden Kelley, with beloved Frenchie, Hector. Kelley says that she founded the ultra-luxury fashion house for pets because “our pets and daily practices (toward them) deserved better.” With that, the inspiration, design, and detail of Pagerie products come from worshiping the beauty, form, and shape of our most loyal companions.

Ithas been said that happiness begins with a wet nose and ends with a wagging tail. Our furry friends ask for little in return for their singular devotion, so perhaps we should return their love and the happiness they bring to our lives with a little pampering. That is exactly the mindset of Pagerie, “the world’s first luxury fashion house for pets,” which believes that instead of another chew toy, we should indulge our four-legged friends with oneof-a-kind accessories.

Indeed, Pagerie is a unique experience for both owners and pets who want to experience the finer things in life. A peek at the items offered by the Los Angeles-based company might offer pet owners the perfect option for spoiling man’s (and woman’s) best friends. Pagerie’s leashes, harnesses, and collars are all hand-crafted from vegetabletanned leather and REACH-certified marine-grade stainless steel. These creations are designed to treat your pet to accessories that are worthy of the important and singular role they play in your life.

Pagerie’s founder, Mandy Madden Kelley, says that she founded Pagerie because “our pets and daily practices (toward them) deserved better.” The inspiration, design, and detail of Pagerie products come from worshiping the beauty, form, and shape of our most loyal companions. “Being in this industry for a while and having the opportunity to attend many important events, such as New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week, I saw a huge gap in the market,” says Kelley. “Everyone brought their loyal, furry companions along with them to every important event, yet no pet product on the market worshipped the canine form: how they fit or look. I was determined to create the perfect marriage of form and function, plus style and fit for these beloved creatures.”

Kelley wants to reinvent how we see our dogs and wants their accessories to be on par with the ones that we splurge on for ourselves—think Birkin bags and Hermès bracelets. She describes the persona of the typical Pagerie customer as someone who has a vast appreciation for detail and innovative products that will last a lifetime. “They value quality in the products that they purchase, have an eye for small details, and their canine is their four-legged companion.” Kelley believes that when you buy a product from Pagerie, you are purchasing an accessory that will be worn, loved, and admired daily. “You are treating your dog like you’d treat your best friend because they simply are your best friend.” indeed, when you hold a Pagerie creation in your hand, you cannot help but feel as if you are holding a piece of art, made by a human in a very slow, thoughtful, and detailed manner. “Quality costs more,” says Kelley, “but it can last a lifetime. When my team and I developed the designs for Pagerie, we created them to be timeless, high-quality pieces that would never go out of style or need to be disposed of or replaced.”

And the goal of treating your best friend to the finer things in life is a nod to a slower and more intentional way of life, according to Kelley. “So many aspects of fashion are lost and marginalized when companies obsess about how quickly they turn over trends and put something on the market. When we started Pagerie, our goal wasn’t to do anything fast. Everything we do takes time. Each one of our pieces is hand-made by artisans across the world and no two pieces are exactly the same because of that,” she says.

Kelley also believes that our pets have a unique role in our lives, and thus deserve unique items to acknowledge that. “I’ve always said that dogs are our modern-day horses,” she says. “Back in the day, we would ride our horses to war, hide in shelters with them and share life experiences with them. As society continued evolving and miniaturizing everything, we also began accessorizing our pets. However, I’ve personally always viewed pets as our strong warriors and protectors, who stick by our side through the toughest moments in our lives. They are loyal, loving, and overall, an extension of us. For this reason, they should be celebrated and appreciated with the most utter care. For me, one way of doing so was designing elegant accessories made from the finest materials that would accentuate their beautiful bodies; from their chest to their shoulders and their legs. Just like humans, our pets should be wearing their accessories; their accessories should not be wearing them. Pagerie objects should be their armor.”

Indeed, the Pagerie website makes it clear that its products are designed to give pets the royal treatment without stinting on caliber. All of its products are thoughtfully created overseas in the same factories as some of the most sought-after fashion houses in the world. Pagerie’s products are also made using materials to prevent irritation and promote durability. And each of Pagerie’s collections is curated to cater to a wide range of animals, while also uniquely designed to be one of a kind.

In2020, Pagerie launched the Sahara Collection as its debut collection and it still holds some of the company’s most popular designs to date. The collection includes The Dórro Collar, The Babbi Harness, The Tascher Leash, and The Pochette and they each come in three different colorways. Pagerie’s next collection was the Les Arcs, which it promoted using larger dogs, but actually created its designs to cater to smaller pets (including cats) and humans as well—such as the stunning Línque collar. This collection also introduced more color into the Pagerie website with its gorgeous forest and saffron shades.

The company’s recently launched Noma collection, designed for “dainty pets,” is all about laid-back lightness and grace. These pieces are literal works of art, from the hand-braided Rava leash that takes 12 hours to create, to the contrasting stitching and easy-to-open clasp on the

The Tascher Leash is an elegant multi-tasker of a lead that can be adjusted to three different lengths (perfect whether training your dog to walk beside you or allowing extra leeway). It comes accessorized with a matching doggie bag pouch. The Colombo Harness is a breathable harness for every day, yet the style is far from everyday. Welcomed air ventilation is thanks to the distinctive ‘peek-a-boo’ cut-out on the back. Perfect for playful dogs.

The Babbi Harness takes its inspiration from a saddle. It is meticulously made and designed to be supremely comfortable, with an attachable quilt padding for a welcome layer of warmth on chilly mornings. Opposite: Because of the adjustable buckles, The Dórro Collar ensures the perfect fit from the very first wear. Thereafter, take the collar off or put it on with just a twist of the turnlock. Et voilà , you are both up and off.

Clyde collar, and the stunning Petite Harness. These items are designed to accessorize your pet in a way that reflects care and taste.

Finally, just so your dog doesn’t outshine you on your daily walks, Pagerie also offers accessories for the two-legged members of the family, including a zippered dog bag pochette where you can neatly tuck away your waste bags, and the stunning Margot, designed to create noise frequencies at a capacity that only our dogs can attest to; a classic, yet chic training tool.

Kelley’s creations are symbolic of the way she approaches life. “I pride myself in how I care for and present those I love,” she says. “There were times that I wanted my beloved dogs to share my style— and to look their best. However, no available accessories were suited to such de rigueur occasions. They were too rugged, infantine, or tawdry. Pagerie was founded because dogs and daily practices deserved better —and that in itself is a reflection of me.”

Kelley, who is primarily known as a beauty and self-care expert, also believes that her experience in that arena informs the Pagerie brand. “When I decided to immerse myself in the beauty and fashion industry, everyone told me how hard it was and that I was too late to the game,” she recalls. “However, being as determined as I was, I learned everything I could, and I wore every single hat within this business. Little did I know that this journey was preparing me for something even bigger than I could have ever imagined. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to attend some of the most important events around the world, with some of the most talented and hard-working entrepreneurs and creatives in our industry. This allows me to get a glimpse into how other brands run their businesses so that I can analyze Pagerie from different perspectives and have an idea of what’s relevant. I am constantly learning, evolving, and growing my brand with purpose and intention.” ■

Editor’s note: All of Pagerie’s accessories are available on its website (pagerie.com).

The doggie pouch on the The Tascher Leash is made from the same luxury grain leather as the leash; this features a durable exposed zipper inspired by the classic bucket bag. The Colombo Harness is fashioned from an unreservedly high grade French leather, with every stitch precisely judged to add reinforcement.

/ PAGERIE.COM