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Gianni Cooling offers planet-friendly and paw-some pet accessories perfect for your pooch.
Fido needs fashionable stocking stuffers too. Even better—eco-friendly ones. Enter Raleigh-based designer Gianni Cooling’s eponymous brand of pretty, posh—and sustainably made!—pet products, perfect for any occasion… whether it’s a strut in the park or a classy bow-wow pow-wow. (Clearly, your barker will be the belle of the ball!)
Rewinding pre-Rover rollout, Cooling—an aspiring fashion designer—cut her teeth in leather crafting with formal training at a high-end European shoemaker. Fast-forward through a movieworthy love story with her now-husband spanning both countries and years (they met while she was on a ship sailing from Greece to Italy and he was backpacking through Europe. *Swoon.*), Cooling was struck with artistry in her hometown of Rottweil, Germany, and created her first pet bow tie.
Between a walk down cobblestone streets in Southern Europe and a dog named Henri (major fairy tale vibes!), Cooling found her calling. While that initial creative spark kindled a dream, it was her big move to the States and eventual experience with fast-fashion pet products that ultimately set the stage for this #GirlBoss in Raleigh. With her first design already under her belt, Cooling sought to build a brand for the modern dog owner.
“It’s about products that are not only sustainable and eco-friendly but high-quality, fashion-forward and long-lasting,” says Cooling of her line of eco-chic collars, leashes, toys and accessories. “It’s about blending European design principles with functional leatherwork using recycled materials that’ll never go out of style.”
And that MO is not just lip service. All of Cooling’s products are designed by her and handmade to order in small batches. She works with family-owned tanneries in both the U.S. and Southern Europe who sustainably source the leather, which is then vegetable-tanned—meaning no chemicals are involved, a process that only about 10% of tanneries in the world use.
Holistic health and happiness are other values that Cooling clings to in her product design—hence why her Monkey line of dog toys are made with 100% organic cotton rope that doubles as doggy dental floss (hygiene and high-fashion? Yes, please!). Another win for pet parents… nearly every aspect of her products can be customized—from the width and length to personalized names’ and color options, and more.
And checking the box on your feel-good holiday checklist, $1 from every Gianni Cooling order this year will be donated to Putnam Service Dogs. “We care deeply about Putnam’s mission, whose goal is to place service dogs with individuals who cannot afford the training, which is very expensive,” Cooling says. “The impact they make truly changes lives.”
Cooling also launched a feature this year in which customers can request a one-on-one design session via Zoom where she’ll make recommendations that are customized specifically to their unique dog’s needs. So no matter what breed, color or gender your pup may be, you can ensure they’ll be spotted—in the best way possible. giannicooling.com
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