DOG CLOTHES Getting more bark for the buck

A clothes maker finds success by focusing on dogs.
THE RECORD (BERGEN COUNTY, N.J.)
The clothing designers at Puppia scour the trendy stores and study the runways for the latest fashions, but when they sit down to create tank tops, dresses and down vests, they need to keep some special style requirements in mind.
Coats must be cut so the wearer can easily lift a leg. Sleeves need to be kept short for when the wearer is walking on all fours. And T-shirts must be tailored to lie flat over the tail. All are important considerations when you're designing for dogs.
Puppia is a privately held Korean company that specializes in canine couture, and has made millions selling to pet boutiques across Asia. Last year, it established its U.S. sales division, Puppia World, in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. In just eight months, the U.S. office has placed the clothes in more than 150 stores and it expects to reach $2 million in retail sales this year.
Had designed for humans
Puppia is an offshoot of Fashion Factory, which originally made clothes for humans. It evolved into a company that dresses canines after the principals decided they could make more bucks by catering to creatures that bark. It's one of a growing number of businesses that are jumping on a product bandwagon fueled by a wave of puppy love in this country.
Those products include $26 Polo shirts, $40 down vests trimmed with faux fur and other apparel made by Puppia to fit Fifi.
Chris Han, director of U.S. sales and marketing for Puppia World, said the Puppia designers get inspiration from classic children's clothing lines such as OshKosh B'Gosh, Benetton and Gap. The result is a style that could be described as "pooch prep" -- hooded sweat shirts, tank tops and sporty sweaters.