LUNGE Makes Luxe Accessories For Truly Stylish Pets · The Wildest

The only thing more amazing than the LUNGE’The new line of puffed-up Napa leather pet accessories is the campaign they created to launch them. Inspired by ’80s Benetton ads and early 2000s fashion editorials, the images are fresh, dynamic and impeccably styled.

LUNGE founder Nicholas Schröder said he wanted to create images that gave the feeling of dogs floating in space with people that reminded him of the dog walkers he sees around NYC when he’s out with his own dog, Twig.

“To bring the vision to life, I collaborated with Geelhermean amazing photographer and director who I used to work with in Brazil and is now global creative director at Sisley,” says Schröder. “Then we looked for people and pets that would bring a happy energy to the set and we felt they would be part of the LUNGE community. Some of the dogs I already knew – including Twig, of course – while others were dumped on the streets of NYC or via Instagram.

The resulting images are the kind you’re more likely to see in a fine art gallery than your local pet superstore, but that’s entirely in keeping with the spirit and quality of the products themselves. They look and feel like true design aficionados — people who can afford luxury brands, but wouldn’t be caught dead wearing tight designer logos, let alone inflicting such obscenity on their pets — is a real buy and a pleasure to use.

“I started LUNGE as an experiment,” says Schröder. “I knew I wanted to bring contemporary design to pet products, and started thinking of playful ways I could do that. I focused on discovering form factors that were visually interesting while also making sure I didn’t compromise comfort and function. Puffed leather feels like the perfect balance between these two worlds.”

The product is absolutely stunning. i’m obsessed! I have to ask, though: Why leather? It’s super soft, and dogs aren’t known for being gentle with their accessories.

It’s definitely the best material for achieving the puffed form I’m looking for, though, and I love how comfortable it is for both people and pets. That said, I knew it would need to be reinforced for durability, so we added a resistant lining to the inside of the strap and worked with our factory partners to develop a unique grommet mold for the LUNGE that features a longer base and short prong which provides a better grip on the leather.

There aren’t any existing pet standards, so we test our products using a standard commonly used for footwear, belts, and straps. The leash can withstand about 80 pounds of force when used on a collar, and about 105 pounds when used with a harness, so the LUNGE is safe for most dogs, although I don’t recommend those product for the heaviest pullers. Yet!

You also have your own dog: Twig. Tell me about him.

Twig is the love of my life. For years, I fell in love with every dog ​​I saw on the street and flirted with the idea of ​​getting one of my own. A close friend of mine has an Italian Greyhound, and it was from them that I learned how precious and special they are. Then I found a breeder who has been working for more than 20 years near where I spent my childhood. He introduced me to Twig, and he never left my side.

What is the best thing about him?

He is the absolute biggest cuddler. This is a spooning household, so we’re the perfect match. He’s also a great travel companion — trains, cars, hiking, hotels; Twig likes everything. Every time I have to leave the house without him, I see him staring at me through the window and my heart breaks. I think he does it so I can take him more places. And it works!

In your press release for LUNGE, you said you wanted to “make restraint more playful.” What do you mean?

I think pet accessories are inherently “unsexy”, so one of my goals is to make products that are both fun and attractive. Although there’s a nod to kink, the LUNGE is definitely for anyone – and their pets – who appreciate good design.

Tell me about your own design background. You actually have a day job at a creative design and branding agency in Brooklyn, right?

Yes. I work in PORTO ROCHAleading operations and helping to develop the business alongside the company’s founders. I always knew I wanted to do something connected to design. I started in the strategy department of an advertising firm when I was still in college, and since then, I’ve worked at many creative and design agencies.

I’ve always gravitated towards smaller studios and startup environments where I can take on a lot of responsibility and learn on many fronts. Over the years, I realized that I wanted to be in the sweet spot between creative and operations — getting things done, but always with an eye for good design. I learned a lot from helping others launch their brands, including what I wanted to do differently myself.

Just like?

I don’t want to be driven by sales or the need to grow a business. Instead, I like to lean into my intuition and create something that’s fun and meaningful to me and different from the other products out there.

I understand that your products are made in Brazil. How did you choose your partners there?

I knew I wanted to keep production with local manufacturers and I often visited Novo Hamburgo, known for its leather production and close to where I grew up in Porto Alegre. Our factory partners are audited and approved by the Leather Working Group and ABVTEX for ethical practices. We work with an onsite team that has built relationships with our partners over the years and makes sure everything runs smoothly. Although I haven’t been able to visit the factory this year, I plan to go home soon and can’t wait to meet everyone in person.

If you could work with anyone, who would it be?

There are so many designers I respect and love to work with: Martine RoseOutsideOILLOEWEand Kiko Kostadinov. They have a fresh and unconventional approach and I really appreciate their use of bold colors and shapes. I would love to work with them on our core products or even expand into new pet categories. I also love the idea of ​​collaborating with home and interior brands like Muller Van SeverenKeyand Studio Rain.

What’s next for LUNGE?

Although I continue to plan ahead, I really try to take it all one step at a time and be present as much as possible. I’m excited to keep experimenting, evolving, and having fun, and I can’t wait to see the cute dogs of NYC show off their new LUNGE looks.