The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer


jgibson@tribunemedia.net

CELEBRATING independence is not only for the two-legged creatures. Through patriotic dress our four-legged friends can also show their love for the country.
Dresses with frills, shirts, ribbons and neck-ties, are just a few of the pieces Bahamian Lorette Evans has designed for pet lovers who want their dogs to be patriotically dressed.

As Bahamians are getting into looking more patriotic, Lorette, who is the owner of Sasha’s Foxy Paws Pet Boutique, said there is no reason why their pets cannot also do the same.

“Every year I try to do something with the designs. So this year I just decided to do something different and incorporate independence colours. All of the pieces have the traditional Bahamian colours. I have also used the flag ribbon to accent some of the clothing to make little bows, neck ties and accents,” she said.
Lorette began designing the Bahamian pieces in 2009, in order to participate in a local craft trade show. She uses local fabrics including Androsia and Batik.

“I chose the local Androsia, Batik and Bahama Island print fabrics for most of my designs. The added bonus was that the Androsia and Batik both come in such beautiful eye-popping colours, I could not go wrong and the sky was the limit. Most times after web surfing covering my bed with fabrics, buttons, bows, trims, inspiration pictures of any and everything and trying out tons of ideas, the cute little designs come to life.
“I hand pick all of my fabrics, buttons and trims. Often times, I would just buy cute things when I see them even if they are not needed right then. My mantra has been for a very long time, it is an insult to our heavenly Father to live on this earth without tapping into the talents he has blessed me with. I refuse to do that and will encourage everyone to use his or her creative gifts before you can no longer do so. For me, it is really a passion that goes way back when fashion was so dominant in my life that I had wanted a professional modeling career and would have careened into fashion design.

Lorette was a vendor at the recently held festival at Botanical Gardens and displayed the clothing. She said she has received positive feedback from various pet lovers, whose first question was whether or not the pieces are pet friendly.

“They are pet friendly and people are often excited to see some of the things I have made for dogs. I just want people to celebrate the country’s Independence any way they can, even if it means dressing up their dogs,” she said.
Lorette’s pet boutique was named after her Yorkie Terrier mix Sasha, which she adopted from The Bahamas Humane Society in 2006.

Sasha is 8-years-old and enjoys life as pack leader of Lorette’s home with five other dogs.

She is also muse of Lorette’s creative designs and is “top super model of all Bahamian dog style fashions,” she said.