Why Choose Eco Friendly Dog Accessories For Your Pup?

I started Hughies because I liked the idea of making useful dog accessories from materials that still had plenty of life left in them.

That is really what sustainability means to me. Not making big claims, but looking at what is already available and asking whether it can be used well instead of being thrown away.

Using what is already there

A lot of the leather I use for Hughies comes from old sofas. It may no longer be wanted as furniture, but the leather itself can still be strong, soft and perfectly usable. I clean it, cut it down and turn it into collars and waste bag holders in my London workshop.

Some of the fabrics I use are reclaimed too, depending on what I can find and what suits the product. That means colours and patterns can change, which I actually like. It keeps the range from feeling too mass-produced.

Made in small quantities

I make Hughies products myself, usually in small batches or to order. That lets me avoid producing piles of stock just for the sake of it, and it means I can pay attention to how each piece is finished.

I would rather make fewer things properly than rush out lots of identical products.

Made to be used

For me, an eco-friendly product still has to be practical. A collar has to be comfortable and secure. A bandana needs to fit properly and wash well. A waste bag holder has to be easy to use on an everyday walk.

If something is made from reclaimed material but does not work well, there is not much point.

Why I think it matters

I am not pretending one dog collar is going to change the world. But I do think small choices add up, especially when they mean keeping good materials in use for longer and supporting things made locally and carefully.

That is the approach I take with Hughies: make useful things, use good materials, waste less where I can, and keep improving as I go.

If you would like to see some of the pieces I make, have a look at our dog collars, dog bandanas and leather waste bag holders.