The Pooch Clutch by Philadelphia artist Colleen Rudolf is a locally-sourced, eco-conscious, handcrafted, animal-free, made-in-America dream accessory. It is a work of art as evening bag that inspires on every level.
First, the drawings: each sketch is a shelter dog from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Colleen volunteered at the PSPCA while she was a graduate student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. After photographing and writing bios for hundreds of dogs for Petfinder, she decided that if she sketched and then painted portraits of the dogs, she could honor them more fully and help facilitate long-term placement. She hoped that if she saw them as valuable enough to paint, others might pay attention them.
After graduation in 2008, her interest in dogs and art evolved, and she began creating objects with her portraits. She founded Portraits by Colleen and designed dishes, mugs, bags, and greeting cards using business practices that reflect her commitment to local and sustainable modes of operation.
Each Pooch Clutch is sewn by a Philadelphia seamstress. The hardware comes from Dallas, Texas. The fabric is manufactured at Spoonflower in Durham, North Carolina with an inkjet printing process that entails very little waste of fabric, ink, water or electricity, and uses eco-friendly, water-based pigment inks on natural fiber textiles with no additional chemicals. The eye-catching satin fabric inside the Pooch Clutch come from local textile businesses on Philadelphia’s fabric row.
No animals are used in the manufacturing of the Pooch Clutch. It is vegan and fabulous, a rare breed.
And Colleen donates 10% of all proceeds to Philadelphia’s Street Trails Animal Rescue, a small local shelter she chose because of their passionate volunteers and their commitment to education.
I don’t feature many “doggie” fashions on Dog Art Today. I am not interested in promoting cheap products made by low-wage (slave) labor in foreign countries (calculate your slavery footprint at Made in a Free World). That is why I am delighted to share the Pooch Clutch with you. It is a beautiful object from its conception to its execution. If I can help in its promotion, it is my privilege.
The Pooch Clutch is $75 and is available at Colleen Rudolf’s Etsy store.
For more information visit Portraits by Colleen.
