CREATURE COMFORTS

Accessories, Community, Design

VolDog designs for canines and the environment, too.

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CREATURE COMFORTS

WORDS BY Imogen Dewey

Barcelona-based creative studio VolDos typically applies their talents to restaurants, hotels and retail spaces. But when founders Marta Budó and Pepe Bustamante found themselves frustrated with a lack of pet products they could seamlessly integrate into their own homes, they decided to expand their services. “Our main idea was to provide our dog Scoot with comfortable quality products” explain Budó. VolDog was born to satisfy discerning humans while keeping pups happy, too, with a design-led collection made from sustainable materials.

Bowls, beds and canine houses are produced following the principles of circular economy: synthetics are swapped for plant-based fibres, natural dyes and earth-derived ores, like bauxite. Budó and Bustamante use recycled pre-consumer waste, such as water-repellent MDF salvaged from the wood industry and are investigating human hygiene performance tech like antimicrobial fabrics. That doesn’t mean their eco-approach sacrifices aesthetics. The designers turned to Danish textile brand Kvadrat—a darling of contemporary furniture design—to repurpose discarded fabrics to use in VolDog’s collars and leads.

Their world-bettering philosophy extends beyond products. “We were clear that if we could help community projects, we would,” Budó says. A portion of all sales support Projecte Empathia, a sanctuary for elderly dogs founded by architect-turned-animal activist Montse Bou.

VolDog’s holistic thinking reflects an emerging global shift that’s now a new norm: we should treat our animals to the same care we afford ourselves, not just in design, but in comfort, hygiene and quality of life.

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All images courtesy of VolDog
voldog.shop
@vol.dog

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Art&Culture, Community, Design, Photography, Publications

DOG-FRIENDLY: TAKE THE LEAD

We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.

August 25, 2021

Art&Culture, Design, Publications

PACK OF DOGS

Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.

August 25, 2020