Growing up immersed in his Latin culture loving everything from music and cuisine to elaborate fashions, Master Pet Couturier Anthony Rubio took his formal education in women’s wear design and decades of experience creating and innovating new concepts and techniques before delving into the pet arena.
His work has been featured in Couture Dogs of New York along with many other very notable appearances you’ll discover below.
Read on to learn more about Anthony Rubio, his inspirations and philosophy, and take a glimpse of his beautiful work!
1. What is your background and what inspired you to get into doggie design?
I did get a formal education in fashion design back in the 1980’s but opted to take work in technologies and eventually education. It was after I rescued an abused Chihuahua I named Bandit that I developed an interest in creating canine clothes out of necessity. Chihuahuas tend to tremble from the cold and out of concern I started designing jackets and shirts for Bandit. It was for Halloween that I decided to delve back into my design background. On a friends advice, I entered Bandit into a costume contest at a local pet store. I created the most elaborate costume for him embellished in Swarovski crystals. Bandit went as Elvis the King and he actually won. First off, I made the costume complete with bell bottoms and cape out of silver spandex, allowing for flexibility which Bandit loved. He pranced in front of the judges and won their hearts. We went on to other events and people started taking notice of my creations. Before I knew it dog owners were asking to commission me for their pets.The rest, as they say, is history.
2. Tell us more about your own pets? How did you come to be together?
As mentioned, I rescued Bandit under horrific circumstances. He’d been abused so badly that his patella’s were disfigured and we later found he’d suffered fractured ribs. Due to the abuse he instinctively bit in defense. The vet warned that if I put him in a shelter he would undoubtedly be put down. I chose to keep and rehabilitate him myself. The vet, after examining him found various issues and determined he might live a year maybe two. Bandit lived a full eight more years with me and became my muse. Bandit won pageants and contests as well as just about everyone’s heart. I made him a Doppelganger taking on the personas of such notables as Elvis, Michael Jackson, Donald Trump just to name a few. As a result of his fame Bandit graced the pages of many publications the likes of Sports Illustrated, The New York Daily News then showing up on Television shows such as The Today Show and Comedy Central. Bandit proved to be a great travel companion and got to see the actual Eiffel Tower and other sights in France, the canals of Amsterdam, the cathedral in Cologne, Germany and many visits where he was celebrated in Las Vegas.
When Bandit passed away, of natural causes, a huge elaborate funeral was arranged for all his friends and fans to attend. His life was well celebrated and the location was filled to capacity.
Shortly after, I adopted twin Chihuahuas boys Bogie and Kimba who had big shoes to fill. They took up where Bandit left off continuing his legacy. At three months they appeared in Broadway show titled Dog Park for its full run. At five months the boys made their runway debut at the first ever New York Fashion Week Show for Canines. Bogie and Kimba along with many of their New York friends were photographed in acknowledgement for their fashions in a publication titled Couture Dogs of New York by famed photographer Paul Nathan. The boys did so well that they ended up gracing the cover. Their stars to fame had only begun to rise. To date, at almost four years of age Bogie and Kimba have had several television appearances including Good Morning America, have been featured in publications world wide such as Glamour, the U.K. Mail and have even had several International documentaries done both about them and my designs. Its funny that if you typed their names in just about any search engine online you would be surprised by what you would find. Ultimately one of my proudest moments was to have been featured with the boys on the front cover of the fashion publication Women’s Wear Daily which is a designer’s dream come true.
3. In terms of fashion, who do you look to for inspiration?
That is a funny question. There are so many who inspire me that I can’t get them all down but I can mention, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, Edith Head, Bob Mackie, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Olivier Rusting (Balmain), Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Philip Treacy and the list seems endless but there is more. I am inspired by history, by film, by theater and most importantly by Art.
I live eat and drink all forms of art. I allow it all to inspire, guide and manifest itself into my creations. I get visions when I least expect them and quickly draw them on anything I can get my hands on. I create not what people expect but what they don’t even know they will admire and want. When they see my creations they are surprised, sometimes amazed and they suddenly want to own them or something unique which I have created that they can call their own. To me that is the epitome of Couture. Its about owning something custom made, unique, collectible and cherished.
4. Pets are some of our best muses. Do you find your pets receptive to modeling your designs?
Yes pets are great muses but let me clarify one thing. It is not for all pets. Not all pets are receptive and/or comfortable wearing clothes especially for the sake of fashion. Out of necessity they will wear a coat or sweater but hats, sunglasses and even foot wear is something that I feel that they must be conditioned to wear at an early age.
I must be clear again that “I Do Not Believe In Forcing A Pet To Wear Clothes.” I do get people wanting to dress their pets but I conduct an interview process because I need to know that I am not causing an animal any discomfort or having any part in bringing any misery to them. My designs, on the other hand, are created with great attention to comfort, breath ability and safety to the pet. Yes there has been an occasion where I dressed a pet that has never worn clothes and was pleasantly surprised to find that they liked it.
5. What’s your favorite animal charity?
Ever since rescuing Bandit I have been very involved in advocacy for as I put it, “Those who can not speak for themselves”. I advocate on such subjects as animal abuse, abandonment, population control and about medical conditions that many are not even aware of like various forms of canine cancer. When possible I champion the causes that bring awareness to the plight of animals that need care and loving homes.
I donate one third of the proceeds of the sales of my creations to different organizations such as Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, The Humane Society of New Rochelle among many worth while charities. There are so many and I wish I was able to do so much more but I help how and where I can.
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