Barron says, "This is a great article on our "Signature Couture Dog Clothing" Designer, Carol Blanchette!

Barron says, "This is a great article on our "Signature Couture Dog Clothing" Designer, Carol Blanchette!

Come visit http://www.barronshouseoftreasures.com/ to see her fabulous couture works of art in the doggie fashion world!


Pooch CoutureEmma Rose designs for the discerning furshionistaby Nicole Feliciano

Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, Stella McCartney. These are typically the female designers we think of when conjuring up visions of jaw-dropping gowns. Add a new name to the list: Carol Blanchette the creative force behind Emma Rose Designs. But this designer isn't dressing Angelina or Penelope or Jen for a night at the Oscars. Instead, Blanchette caters to the doggie elite.

Sewing appears to be in Blanchette's blood. She learned the craft from her mother and in turn taught her own daughter to sew. Over the years, her sewing machine has rarely stopped. That is until 1995 when Blanchette took a self-imposed hiatus from needle and thread.

Retirement didn't sit well with Blanchette. She quickly bored with life away from fabric and fashion. Thankfully, Emma, her beloved poodle served as a source of inspiration. One winter when Blanchette thought Emma looked cold, the seamstress set about sewing her dog a spiffy coat.

What started out as a small functional project, soon took on a life of its own. "The dog clothes sort of snowballed," says Blanchette. Her daughter, Sherry Raposa, got into the act and Raposa's dog, Rosie, began to dress like a starlet too. When the dogs and owners went out on excursions they attracted plenty of attention. As interest in the doggie designs grew, Blanchette and daughter began to take commissions.

Emma Rose, named after the founders' dogs) was formed by the mother-daughter team in 2000. In the seven years they've been in business, the duo has expanded to include: pet sweaters, carriers, puppy purses, soft dog blankets, and much more to their line of fashions. But the couture clothing remains the lifeblood of the company.
W
hat exactly does "doggie couture" mean? Most dog clothes are readymade at a large sewing factory. Unlike these mass-produced garments, an Emma Rose couture design is pieced and sewn by hand. According to Blanchette, these dresses and coats are made to specific measurements to fit a particular dog with style and panache.

Sharon Yow, President of Pawsh, Inc. and owner of Pawsh Pet Boutique, raves about the workmanship of Emma Rose designs. Yow discovered the brand at the 2007 New York Pet Fashion Week. The doggie boutique owner fell in love with the quality and construction of the fashion-forward designs. "The detailing in the couture-wear is gorgeous... these clothes are nicer than the clothes I have in my closet," says Yow. The Emma Rose fashions proved so popular with her customers that Yow decided to carve out a special space in her shop to showcase the collection.

Yow does custom fittings at her store to facilitate Emma Rose couture orders. Blanchette trained Yow in the art of the measuring dogs for a perfect fit (according to Blanchette it requires very precise measurements for the best finished product). After the measurements are compiled, Yow sends the orders to Blanchette and a few weeks later the garments are shipped south for final fittings on the dogs.

Special occasion pieces--for weddings, formal parties and for "just plain showing off"--are really what attract her clientele. "My clients love the high-end pieces," says Yow. Top sellers include black and silver evening gowns and lacey cotillion dresses.

Whey asked why her clients splurge for expensive custom gowns, Yow says it's about the fit and the experience. "The fit will be wonderful. Carol takes into account the needs of different breeds," says Yow. According to retailer, the level of customer service both she and her clients receive from Emma Rose is exceptional.

Headquartered far from the hustle and bustle of New York City's fashion district, all the work is done in Blanchette's 1800-square-foot Rhode Island home. There aren't any forms or patterns in the studio - just sewing machines and yards and yards of fabric. Since Blanchette and her daughter don't use patterns, basic sewing can take days. On average each custom piece requires two days of work. Despite the time investment, Blanchette refuses to outsource any of her garments' production.

As Blanchette tells it, fabric is crucial in the construction of the collections. Blanchette says she moves around the fabric and touches it - then the inspiration comes. To find the best materials, Blanchette and her daughter scour New England estate sales hunting for vintage treasures (the duo vow never to order from overseas).
The designer turns up her nose at the fashions found in large-box retailers where most of the clothes are mass-produced in China. In addition to fine fabric, Blanchette believes in sweating the details.
For the more intricate work, such as beading, Blanchette uses a large magnifier. With thread in hand, she'll work for an hour at a time, hand knotting each crystal Swarovski bead onto a wedding gown.

Blanchette seems to have an infinite store of ideas. There are more than 300 items in the Emma Rose collection and new ideas pop up every day. Special requests are greeted with a can-do attitude. They've matched up wedding gowns for human brides who want their fur families involved in wedding ceremonies.

Blanchette says she is delighted to work with owners on dreaming up canine wedding attire in tulle, silk and organza. The Emma Rose retail site shows a few dreamy creations, such as the Candlelight Dog Bridal Gown fashioned from English netting and featuring a removable train.
From a $20 casual chic dog harness to a $12,000 one-of-a kind gown, purchasing an Emma Rose design means an investment in quality and an acknowledgement that dressing your dog should be fun and fantastic. As Blanchette says, "Our designs set you and your pooch apart from the masses."

Still despite all the effort she puts into her work, Blanchette remains slightly amazed by the demand for her creations, "This is the craziest thing I've ever done... now I'm starting to think it's normal for dogs to wear a $500 dress."

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