Dog fashions hit Japan

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-14-2008 09:14

This year's New Year Dog Party show in Tokyo was held over the weekend.

The event featured poodles in embroidered pants, pet papillons in knitted robes, and greyhounds in crystal studded gabardines.

A toy poodle walks down the runway with a model during a dog fashion show at the New Year Dog Party held in  Tokyo January 12, 2008. REUTERS/Michael Caronna

Fashion brands from New York dominated the show, as the city transported their Pet Fashion Week New York to Japan this year.

Dressing up dogs is a relatively new trend in the west, but it's old news to Japanese dog owners who are lapping up the new overseas collections.

Bjorn Gardsby, Dog Outfit Designer for Swarovski, said, "Everywhere you go all over the world today, you see people with clothes on their dogs. Paris Hilton started this trend again, but this is an old thing. And I think Japan is one of the first countries that started dog clothing."

Japan is already a pet fashion trend-setter. Paris Hilton herself, with her fondness for Hello Kitty and Japanese kitsch, is said to have been inspired by Japanese doggy trends when she launched her "Paris Hilton Pet Collection' in 2007.

A toy poodle walks down the runway with a model during  a dog fashion show at the New Year Dog Party held in  Tokyo January 12, 2008.REUTERS/Michael Caronna

In most parts of the world anyone with a toy poodle in a gothic angel costume, or a labrador in a tight sailor outfit, would be considered a little strange. But here in Japan, pets rule the roost.

Yukari Takeda, Dog Owner, said, "When I buy clothes for my daughters who are now at this age, I buy according to their tastes. But for our doggies, its very different. They can't speak back so I can pick and choose whatever clothes I like."

In 2006, there were at least 13 million dogs in Japan. As the dog population grows, so is the market for dog-related products.