As more and more people live alone and some opt out of parenthood altogether, the Australian pet care industry is in boom times. We have one of the highest domestic animal ownership rates in the world which is great news for the lifestyle dog brand Nice Digs. The creation of Melbourne-based Georgia Havekotte, the latest from the label combines whimsical prints and a 70s’ inspired colour palette to fabulous effect.
“I’m a fashion and textile designer by trade but I’ve always wanted to build something for myself. I graduated with a bachelor in Fashion Design at RMIT then did a few stints over in Europe, interning and training further before returning to Melbourne. Over the past few years I’ve worked for numerous Australian fashion brands focusing on print and textile design,” says Georgia whose career path suddenly changed course after becoming a dog owner and noticing a dearth of stylish canine products on the market.
“After adopting a rescue dog called Checkers I struggled to find dog products that fit with my personal aesthetic and suited our home. With this in mind, I developed a collection of products that were fun and functional with a contemporary aesthetic,” says Georgia who launched the label after a successful crowdfunding campaign.
“Creating products that make living with pets easier and more attractive is my mission. I love how creative I can be within the field and there are so many fun and inspiring dog lovers out there to share it with,” says Georgia.
One of the hottest interior trends this year, velvet makes an appearance in the range. “It features this season’s key colour trends, dusky rose and deep jade, and these are used to complement our prints’ neutral colour palettes. Our new velvet Slouch bed design is perfect for the dog who loves to curl up and snuggle. This is a softer, more relaxed style than our traditional bed and you’ll definitely struggle to get your pup out of bed in the mornings!”
As for Georgia’s favourite piece from the winter 2017 collection, it’s the ‘Modern Form’ collar and leash set. “It’s a nod to the Modernist artist, it’s quiet and contemplative and is definitely for the ultra-cool pup. It’s also my favourite thing to make. We hand paint and assemble these in our Melbourne studio and we use only high quality, Australian-regulated vegetable tanned leather.”
Photography: Frances Parker | Styling: Georgia Havekotte
