Masimalo is the leader in creating Masimalo is the leader in creating sustainable, stylish, and functional sustainable, stylish, and functional dog products. dog products.
The first edition of this feature with The first edition of this feature with Kerstin and his fluffy best friend Stella. Kerstin and his fluffy best friend Stella.
n May 2023, THEANIMALS launched a global fragrance line, by exploring the sense of smell and how it deepens the relationship between animals and their humans.
THEANIMALS scent has been created for humans and dogs alike in Eau de Parfum, Soft drops, and a Soft Flame (candle). They have entrusted the Parisian nose and independent perfumer Clémence Besse with the creation of their fragrances, which are produced in France. With a single sniff, noses interpret an entire story without words and a nose for a dog is a key to canine survival.
With THEANIMALS you have no need to smell badly. The brand offers a unisex Eau de Parfum, that is imagined and composed for human skins, but in empathy with the animal's sensibility. The Soft Drops is an entirely delicate luxury fragrance, with the same
High standards of creativity and quality for our beloved animals.
Last but not least, the brand created a hand-poured porcelain candle made in France infused with the unique fragrance of the Eau de Parfum, known as Soft Flame.
But who is behind the brand?
Jo Goldman is the diva who brought the luxury of essence to the canine world. She saw an opportunity to create a fashion brand that allows pet owners to share their personal style with their beloved dogs and cats.
Jo says THEANIMALS is a firstto-market species-fluid fashion brand, challenging the rules that have traditionally divided animals and their humans.
THEANIMALS is exclusively for people who love animals, fashion, design, and lifestyle trends and want to share their personal lifestyles with their furry friends. Discover more in @THEANIMALS.STUDIO .
your owner How I met
TTell us about your way of life
oday we invited Kerstin to tell us a little more about her life full of colour, which conveys a lot of harmony, as well as her love of interiors and dogs. Kerstin has been living in Berlin, in the east of the city, for about four years now and she loves it. According to her, Berlin is an international and liberal city, has great restaurants, museums, and lots of culture and the people are just easygoing. She lives with Stella, her furry best friend, in a landmarked typical Berlin old building from 1902, 3.4 meter high ceilings, double doors, lots of stucco, and rooms with a lot of soul and history. Here she could bring her vision to life with her interior design style for the first time. It's rather bold and colorful. Memphis Milano I like very much, strong primary colors and black and white contrasts stripes and sculptural shapes, this is the style that makes her happy, she said.
Who is Kerstin in a world of blackness?
« A lot of people think from the way I dress and live from my content on Instagram that I am a very outgoing person, and yes, as a PR manager I work with interesting people, I am very social and have to go to events. In my private life, I very much love to stay at home. ». During COVID19, she realized that she needed to recharge her battery in silence and at home. She could watch lots of people really struggle with staying at home, and being alone but she enjoyed this.
What about furry friend?
Kerstin and Stella met approximately 3 years ago and she definitely speeded up this important change in Kerstin’s life: deceleration and focus on what really counts.
« I always wanted a dog but was never allowed in my former apartments. When I moved to Berlin, I was looking for an apartment and I also got Stella during the pandemic, since with my
new home apartment I was finally able to have a dog living with me. »
Stella is a shelter dog from Croatia and the Designer got her with 6 months. As a baby, she was found alone in a box in front of the shelter. Kerstin guessed she was taken away from her mom too young and also did not get lots of human interaction in her first month on earth. She is a mixed breed, a hunting dog with lots of fun in hunting, which makes it difficult to let her run free in the woods. On the other hand, she is the most social dog the owner has ever seen. She loves other dogs, loves to play, and never gets aggressive. The only thing they told her from the shelter was that she is very playful, and this is so true. She also enjoys driving in the car: the duo even went to Stella’s home country, Croatia, on vacation.
when you joined brightcolours and why?
Since university, Kerstin has always been into that extravagant bold style. She has, in her small student flat, blue curtains with white dots and leopard sheets! She loves to be surrounded by beautiful designs, form does not have to follow function, I adore the aesthetics, which makes me a fan of Ettore Sottsass and Memphis Milano. « My home is a place where I want to feel happy »
She thinks that bright colours are a compensation for all the dark and negative things happening in life.
Kerstin is a very sensitive person and if she looks out of the window, and walks on the streets - most of the time, especially in Winter, it's dark and not very colorful. When she sees people who dress colorful or bold, this always makes her so happy. At the end of the day, Kerstin told to DOGGY that maybe this is her little contribution to make this world a little bit more friendly and bright. Follow the adventurous in @thekersy
power of natural shampoos
Strudel And Friends is a Czech brand dedicated to offering topquality pet shampoos made with only natural, active ingredients and packaged in recyclable materials. The flagship product, STRUDEL & FRIENDS shampoo, is completely natural, free from sulfates, parabens, and silicones, and housed in an eco-friendly, designer bottle. It’s also 100% vegan and features a refreshing lemongrass and mint scent, thanks to the use of high-quality oils. Their mission goes beyond just providing exceptional pet care. The founders want to donate 5% of our proceeds to “Dej nám šanci Dog Hospice”, an organization that supports elderly, abused, sick, and disabled dogs who have been abandoned.
« The name STRUDEL & FRIENDS comes from my English Cocker Spaniel, Strudel. I noticed a lack of products on
the market that was suitable for daily use, completely natural, and pleasantly scented. »
Recognizing the rise of the “clean beauty” trend for humans, the brand wanted to create a similarly highquality, natural product for dogs. The result is a shampoo designed to meet a gap in the pet market - a 100% natural dog shampoo with a gentle aromatherapeutic scent, perfect even for dogs with sensitive skin. Importantly, it is carefully formulated to match the pH of a dog’s skin, providing extra gentle, nourishing care.
The production process of STRUDEL & FRIENDS shampoo begins with extensive research and development, which took about a year of testing and refining. However, Strudel continues to make adjustments to ensure they meet the highest quality standards and the needs of the most discerning clients. The shampoo is supplied to professional dog salons making it one of the best shampoos on the market.
As our guest for today we've chosen Woody Woodstock and his owner Julia Illig, to talk about the life of a Pet Influencer: what it's like to deal with fame, and what the lifestyle of a famous person is like.
« Being a Pet Influencer is pretty much being responsible for everything. »
The activity on social media, the angle of the photos, everything has to be perfect. Woody has to be responsible for the perfect curls - because his business is hippie hairstyling. He is responsible for entertaining his community because he wants to keep them happy. Being responsible for listening to everyone and keeping up to date. And is responsible for keeping his cool, because Woody is known as Mr Cool.
But what will this Pet Influencer's backstage be like? Life at home, his lifestyle?
Woody and Julia met during the first lockdown of the pandemic, spring of 2020 in Hamburg. He was busy entertaining Julia because she needed to stay at home and she had in return the chance to guide me without any interruptions through my puppyhood.
Today they are a curly couple totally in trust with each other, holding paws at the beach and sharing french fries.
« Mom is a passionate surfer. And I love the water! » Julia tells us that he would really like to join her on one of her surfing trips. And actually, it would be fun to compete together in a look-a-like contest. Celebrating the free the curls club.
You can join the adventures of this mini family in @woodywoodstock2020 !
With a background in product and fashion design, Maarten and Marina merged their experiences with a passion for dogs and started Masimalo. Based in Stockholm, the Swedish-Dutch design duo Marina & Maarten behind Masimalo make products designed with intention, focusing on optimal function and timeless style for dogs and their humans. They believe that good design can elevate everyday moments and also make a difference in the environment.
Everything is in the details and behind each Masimalo product lie many design iterations, product testing, and carefully selected materials. Ethical production and sustainability are a given in all products and packaging. Each material is selected based on its performance and sustainable qualities - the Scandinavian full grain leather is vegetable tanned without harmful chemicals and is a biproduct from other industries that would normally go to waste. It is also a material that ages with grace and is extremely durable yet soft, perfect to
wear close to the skin for both humans and dogs so there is no coincidence that it is used for both collars and lead handles. Apart from walking essentials, Masimalo also offers a range of grooming products made from 99-100% natural ingredients, enamelware dog bowls as well as natural wool toys. But, why MASIMALO?
The high-quality full-grain leathers used by Masimalo are sourced in Scandinavia and vegetable-tanned. The tanneries are rated Gold by the Leather Working Group, which is working internationally to improve traceability and environmental performance in the leather industry.
Their webbing and 3D-knit is made from RPET, which is 100% recycled Polyester. The RPET comes from post-consumer waste (such as old carpets), and industrial waste.
All collars and leashes are fitted with high-quality brass hardware for strength and safety. Brass is made from copper and zinc, and has been used for centuries due to its strength and other characteristics.
The bowls are made from enameled steel. Enamel is a high-quality surface treatment with a long heritage. It makes the bowls extremely durable and long-lasting.
The shipping boxes the brand use are made in Europe from 100% recycled cardboard. Also, all collars and leashes are shipped in a protective dust bag made from organically grown cotton, meaning that no pesticides or fertilizers have been used in the production process. The bottles are made from 100% plant-based plastic and are certified by the” I’m Green” trademark.
Ethical manufacturing and longstanding relationships with the factories are key to making great sustainable products. The leather factory is based in India and is a forerunner in terms of ethical and sustainable manufacturing.
Aproject that began three years ago in the hands of a mother and daughter, Cristina and Manuela, who are passionate about everything related to the world of tailoring, and a canine hand from Sven. Sven is a dachshund, a breed characterized by its long body, which makes it difficult to choose clothes for this best friend. That's why one day they thought: ‘Why not try making them ourselves?’. The founders decided to ‘connect’ their
passions in Ago&Fido: with needle and thread, creativity, and, of course, their hands, they create customized clothes and accessories for all dogs. Our creations are unique, with a minimalist style that defines Ago&Fido's distinctive character. Manuela and Cristina love simple, clean lines and have never been fans of sequins or glitter, not even on themselves. They draw significant inspiration from the colors and designs of the Nordic.
countries and everything they create is never just for aesthetic purposes; it also has a functional purpose. This season's best seller continues to be the jacket, the product the public knows the brand best for. Each jacket is unique and customized; there is no other like it! This means that each puppy has its own personal pattern. All the creations can be personalized with the fabric of your choice, depending on the season. A beautiful novelty that the team
has introduced for autumn 24 are the 100% alpaca and 100% cashmere neck warmers, handmade with great care and passion, available in stunning Limited Edition colors! So, to finalise... All their items are unique because when you choose Ago&Fido, you're going to the animal tailor! A unique experience that results in a comfortable garment. Follow the brand @agoefido to discover the whole world of this artisan family.
