'Purrfect' for pets

Canine fashion

Her love for the furry friends and fondness for waffles inspired Garima Gupta to come up with the adorable name ‘Pawffles’, for her start-up specialising in unconventional accessories for dogs. From necessities like collars, harnesses, dog beds and car seat covers to stylish winter clothing, bandanas, bow ties and tuxedo collars, she has all that a pet lover would want to pamper their dog with.

“An event called ‘Pet Jatre’ was being conducted last year by Precious Paws Foundation, an NGO. They had created a Facebook page inviting vendors to set up stalls. I adore dogs and since there was nobody in Bengaluru making any unusual accessories for them, my mother Nisha and I set up a stall there. That’s how Pawffles started,” says the 26-year-old IT professional working with an American bank in the city.

“I have two Labradors — Fidel, eight, and Pluto, one and a half years old. They motivate me to create new stuff. In fact, they are the models who showcase my creations,” she smiles.

The mother-daughter duo designs the products themselves and make everything by hand. “Durable and comfortable fabrics like cotton are used by us. We are always innovating and coming up with new things required by pets and their owners. For instance, our dog beds are designed in a very practical way. They come with washable covers so that one doesn’t need to clean the entire bed every time and can easily maintain hygiene. The car seat covers are like a hammock— they prevent the dog from falling — and also keep the seat clean so no clearing up is required after a ride. Even the soft collars are very comfortable just like day collars,” explains Garima.

The products are very colourful and come in several quirky shades including neons that can lend a more cheerful look to one’s best companion. They are affordable as well, she says, and can be personalised and customised. Clients can have their dog’s name or a quotation embroidered on car seat covers, beds and bandanas and choose fabrics too. Pawffles also has bow ties and frillies for cats.

“We’ve made accessories for all breeds of dogs and cats including the rescued and adopted,” shares Garima proudly, adding, “We operate from home and I do as much as I can over the weekends. While mom takes care of the production, I concentrate on design, social media updates, sales and dealing with customers. It’s my affinity towards these animals that keeps me going despite the hectic work schedule.”

Orders are usually taken through their Facebook page ‘Pawffles’ and many have poured in by word-of-mouth. She has displayed her merchandise at exhibitions like Pet-a-thon, Sunday Soul Sante and Pet Jatre and has clients not only from Bengaluru but also from cities like Pune, Mumbai and Gurgaon.

With a focus on expanding to other online platforms and reaching out to a greater audience, Garima concludes, “It is the encouragement from pet lovers and undying support from family that made Pawffles a reality.”