A story of companionship, craftsmanship, and keeping the ones we love close.
There are some journeys we cannot take together.
Before Zootage existed, I often had to travel for work, leaving my dog at home while I moved from one city to another. No matter how familiar travelling became, there was always a part of home I wished I could bring with me.
That feeling became a simple idea: what if I could carry a little version of my dog wherever I went?
Not simply as a pet accessory, but as something personal — something I could attach to my bag, take through airports, bring into hotels, and carry through everyday life. A small reminder of someone waiting for me at home.
That idea eventually became the beginning of Zootage.
From an Idea to Leather
Leather was a natural material for me to work with.
My connection with leather began long before Zootage. My father once ran a handbag workshop, and for nearly three decades his work has focused largely on handbag restoration and repair. Growing up around this environment — and later working alongside him — gave me an appreciation for leather that goes beyond how it looks.
I learned to notice how a piece is constructed, how leather changes with use, and how careful workmanship can give an object a much longer life.
When I began developing the first Zootage charms, I wanted to bring some of that thinking into an entirely different world.
Each charm would be made by hand, shaped into a familiar companion and created to live alongside the objects we carry every day.
More Than a Pet Accessory
From the beginning, I never wanted Zootage to feel like something made only for pets.
Our animals are already part of our homes, our routines and our memories. For many of us, they are part of our identity too.
That is why a Zootage charm was designed to move between these worlds. It can represent the dog or cat you love, while becoming part of your own bag, outfit and everyday life.
Over time, this idea has become one of the foundations of Zootage: creating objects that bring the emotional connection we have with our animals into the way we live and the things we carry.
A Purpose Beyond the Product
But there was another reason I wanted to build Zootage.
My own dog inspired the beginning of the brand, but I knew there were many animals who did not have the same security, care or companionship.
If Zootage could grow into a meaningful business, I wanted part of that growth to reach beyond our own customers and products.
This became a commitment to support animals in need whenever we could — through charitable initiatives, collaborations and contributions connected to the work we do.
It is a small beginning, but an important part of what I want Zootage to become.
Keeping Them Close
Zootage began with one dog, one idea and a desire to make distance feel a little smaller.
Today, that idea continues to shape what we create.
Whether a charm travels across the city on a favourite bag or accompanies someone halfway around the world, its meaning remains the same:
to keep a little piece of someone you love close to you.
Connect With Your Beloved.