From a young age Gina Goodall, the creator of Hound Couture, knew she wanted a career in textiles or fashion designs.
‘Since I was little, I’ve had a passion for anything creative,’ she says. ‘I used to love playing with fabrics and creating little projects using my mother’s sewing machine. My father built me a doll’s house and I would spend my weekends sewing little clothes and cushions, building furniture, or creating food out of polymer clay for it. The hobby is still with me today. I have a mini empire of real estate that I enjoy working on in my spare time.’
Having graduated in 2013 with a First Class degree in Fashion Design and gained the accolade of Student of the Year at Nottingham Trent University, Gina went on to enjoy a successful career working with design and buying teams in London before moving to Manchester.
‘Starting as a junior I was then promoted to Design Lead, creating garments for the vintage inspired clothing brand Lindy Bop. The job fulfilled all my passions but in April 2020 the Covid pandemic hit, and Lindy Bop went into administration.
‘My colleagues were wonderful, and I made friends for life. We liked the people and the area, so my husband and I decided to buy a house in Chorley where we have easy access to both Manchester city life and the countryside. I had always dreamed of owning my own business and decided to go for it – even if all I had were my redundancy pay, my domestic sewing machine and a spare room. My husband was wonderfully supportive and came up with the name Hound Couture which sums up everything that I wanted to do – create a lovingly handcrafted product from start to finish for dogs.
‘I spent the first few months sourcing quality materials, testing hardware and developing patterns. As a dog owner myself I wanted products that were practical and safe as well as beautiful and luxurious. I also purchased the domain for my website and built it from scratch. It wasn’t easy. I had doubts and often wondered if I was doing the right thing, but sales began to steadily come in.’
As Gina was establishing her business during the pandemic, many people were adding pups to their households and orders and requests began grow for her luxury accessories which include dog collars, leads, bow ties, flowers, and bandanas.
‘In 2021 I purchased an industrial sewing machine and moved into my studio which has given me much more scope. I love using traditional fabrics with a classic feel and I’ve recently launched a limited edition Tarras Tweed collection using handwoven fabric from a small independent company in Scotland. The tweed fabric is woven on traditional looms and has such a beautiful quality. Customers can also order their own bespoke product. Bespoke dog sets for weddings are always popular, including pouches for the dog to carry the rings down the aisle. From the initial sourcing of fabrics and components, pattern cutting and manufacturing to wrapping orders ready to post everything is done with attention to detail. For me it’s a labour of love.’
Gina’s love for her three dogs – Labradoodle Frankie, and Standard Dachshunds Hugo and Ted – shines through too. ‘They are my muse, and I can’t imagine life without them. I call them my little furry ambassadors and they are the perfect trio to trial my products.
‘My camera roll is full of them wearing my creations or testing my products out. They were able to test my new product when I branched into snuggle beds. My bed collection includes Snuggle beds which are designed for dogs that love to burrow, like my own dachshunds. They provide protection with a large covered hood and reduce anxiety. Nest Beds, which I have recently launched, are designed for dogs that don’t like to be covered, or for flat face breeds. This bed style has high bumpers the dog can rest its head on. It mimics the sensation of when they were with litter mates and helps to reduce stress. They are fully washable and come with a waterproof liner for practicality.’
When working, Gina’s four-legged friends are never far away. They are either resting at her feet as she walks, or testing new products in her rented field. And when they’re not working, Gina enjoys walking with Frankie, Hugo and Ted in the Lancashire countryside, particularly at Rivington.
The three dogs have also become stars on social media with one Tik Tok video going viral, with over 1.6 million views to date and is the top-liked video for the Standard Dachshund hashtag on the platform.
