 Hi guys, welcome back to the PVAC show. This is my fourth episode and today I have two special guests Celebrating pet designers from New York City the top notch. Hi guys. Hi. Thank you for having us. Yes I have Roberto Negrin and Ada Nieves. Yes. Thank you. Yes so you guys brought your pets with you you guys have some designs you're gonna show us and You're gonna talk to us about how you guys got involved in this. How did you guys get involved? Did you want to start? Yeah We are two both long-star. Well, this one let me introduce you her to Athena. Athena is my latest puppy that I have And she's just one year old. Good. Yeah, and I just got her recently about five months ago So going back to your question I started I started to this fashion industry also Thanks to Ada Nieves who inspired me and to my dogs heckling. That's my poodle. She's not to dress me Just in case So I started designing clothes for dogs when I was like three four years ago And I was always going out and seeing everybody in their dogs and fashions and we hear about a beauty pageant for those And I wanted to be part of it though I was like none of their regular clothes that I go to Different regular stores fix my personality. So without knowing anything about sewing I went to my mother's house who have a little knowledge of it and I said mom I need to make a clothes for my dog and the funny thing that she was like what first of all She doesn't like dogs. Okay, and then we decided, you know She helped me through the whole process teaching me the basics of how to start sewing We figure out the patterns as we make her the gown for my for my poodle heckling The thing happened was the the next step was that she won the best dress in Different category and was also the first runner-up for the crown wearing my design after that The whole new journey started people start coming in asking for our dresses. We start making costumes that being on the press You know, my clients are winning conscious one of them was the pope that I made for a well-known Chihuahua that is a celebrity his name is Eli and he was all over the press also then last year for Halloween I make the Farron costume or Egyptians and it was all over international press too as well So that was basically how I start sewing because of my dogs and you know and every day is a new challenge for us, so we are learning New things in the mouth. What about you Ada? Well, you know, I have a little Longer of a background I started in 2005 when I was watching the Oscars And I wanted my dog to have gowns similar to what the actresses were wearing on the red carpet So I watched the Oscars on that on February of 2005 And as the actresses were walking on the on the on the red carpet I thought okay that dress is good for vanilla. The other one is not, you know, I started comparing Following day, I just went to the fabric store about all the fabric the design made the gowns and Little that I know in a couple of days. I have a photographer that came and took pictures It was for us, you know, just just a little picture that I wanted my dog But the pictures were international and I received calls from Diane Sawyer and from different media I had people coming from the Dutch the French the Italians everybody came to buy up to my little humble apartment The lower East side So, you know to film my dogs wearing the Oscar gowns and then since then You know, we started like in a in a drum roll My dog started to work professionally and then so the designs started to become a little more complicated and more, you know detail and then When a couple of years ago the fashion Institute of Technology here in New York City decided to give a Certificate for us for pet fashion designers for the first time. I jump into it right away and I am their first graduate Yes So I couldn't wait I was so excited so happy and so proud and Of course, I met a lot of amazing people that are into the same industry and doing the same type of things and You know, now, what is your dog's name? This is vanilla salt And she is one of five I have a five I have also Mojito bandit Margarita veil I I just got Calua, Royale and Chihuahua champion, the only one in New York City that lives in the city My champion Tabasco chili pepper Of course, you know in the interrush we added a cat that we rescued Yes, I can't I don't know some people think that he's a lion like a mountain lion His name is Martini Bedovin and he also get dressed. Yes. No, you have to see him in talks You gave him you gave him the long the long Spanish names. You have like the No, um, so you say you have five animals I have five Chihuahuas and a cat I also I also I also do fosters and I do, you know, a lot of little Baby sitting you can call with him when it comes to Chihuahua because I run the New York City Chihuahua meet-up We have over 900 members. What's up with you and the Chihuahuas? I just love the breed I think they're fantastic. I love the temperament. They're very easy to take with you everywhere You know, it's the companionship of you know, having something with You that gives you that like a little safety blanket, you know that that comfort feeling the breed is fantastic They're very smart. They're playful loving. So I know I I I always loved Chihuahuas ever since I was a little kid I like and I also think you know, though it is believed that the origins are Mexico I am from Puerto Rico not from Mexico, you know But it's that link to my Hispanic heritage that keeps me attracted to the breed and and you know, I'm a strong Advocate for them And in our club probably I mean if it's true, there's a saying that you know, Chihuahuas are like potato chips You need you can't have just one We have 900 members. So if the count goes right, we have close to probably 3,000 Chihuahuas in our club and they and they're you know, Chihuahuas, Chihuahuas mixes because we advocate rescuing and We're very much involved with that You know, there's no discrimination It could have a blood of Chihuahuas in it and I'm happy and they can come and join us and through all the events that we do throughout the year That's awesome. And how many pets do you have? Well, I have two Chihuahuas. I have in total four dogs I have two Chihuahuas, Athena and DJ. I have a poodle, miniature poodle that her name is Heglin That's the one who we who started all these crazy thing about fashion with pets And I have to say has a better head than I do I am very proud when it comes to hair styles and I envy that dog Yeah, she's taking good. Yeah, she's saying bye of every dogs and girls with her natural hair that I don't care But also I have an avi, my little Yorkie mix with silky terrier Or sometimes my friend always mess up with me bothering saying that she's my little forky Because she's a fake Yorkie But it's okay. I love my dogs All of them as well have their own professional career modeling Athena was featured recently also with the Chihuahua Glamour magazine the word feature on it. Heglin's being all over the place in International place from New York to daily news to China press and India featuring my designs It's kind of one thing kind of goes with the other because you started doing fashions And then the dogs start to get attention and then the people that are in the industry that they use animals as from You know, let's say for props or modern whatever the situation it is, you know Yeah, they noticed exactly and then so they get close to do that like my you know my my gang You know, we call them the nevus There's so many already that it's hard to keep up with my Mention one by name like this Don't ask me my name when you ask my dog's name because I probably won't remember but I think you know We call it the nevus gang just to make it short and sweet You know, they they all have done Professional work in the media TV commercials magazines. Yeah, I've been I've been watching you guys I mean I seen you guys like all your pets everywhere. Yes. Yes, and then thanks to them I also have the opportunity to become a pet stylist for a few shows like on Teddy Rock and NBC No, I dress up some dog for an episode of them Recently I did MTV where I saw that Yes Lady Gaga winners of the MTV Awards of the previous year and then we did everything I mean and every single Outfit that the dogs have what an exact replica of what the The winners had on stage. I saw the video you posted once it wasn't the Lady Gaga outfit It was a meat. It's me. Yeah. Well, you know It it was a challenge because they they they present to me the project and of course I have to do something that it has to create the same wow effect, you know, how can you compete with Lady Gaga? You know, so it's a funny thing I go to the supermarket and I decided to do a meat dress for the dog too So there was all sort of questions like and the dog's going to eat it My dog won't eat it, but are the other dogs gonna want to come and eat it, so You know, I went to the research trying to figure out what how I was gonna do that Exactly. So first step I went to the supermarket to check on the meat because meat they come in different ways and colors Hey, you know, figure that one out. You know, I'm not a butcher, so I learned a lot So I Went to the supermarket and I and I discovered bacon I discovered bacon for the outfit and then so that's what I use I had to diet and make it a stronger color because bacon is not as red as the dress that Lady Gaga Generally were so I I kind of painted it in red, but I used the bacon I treated it lots of hairspray so it wouldn't smell like meat and the other dogs wouldn't jump into it Exactly. Yeah. So and then I did the boots the the handbag They had the dress the whole thing And you know, it was a success. I'm happy. I'm very happy. You know, we also did Britney Spears You know, I'm going back to my age, you know, I go for chair I For dogs because you have to make sure that are wearable for them that they are completely safety as well So it's always a challenge and every time we are working on this kind of project that we're doing costumes We have to count those things because at the end is not just about showing the fashion and having fun with it But well, we have to make sure that the dogs are comfortable and that they can walk I can only imagine. I mean, especially, you know, because the dogs have to be comfortable Yes, you don't know that because they don't speak. Yes. Yes, but I mean You know, that's that's that's where professionals enter. You see because it's not just dressing up a dog It's finding the right fabric the right colors because if you want the animal to stand out You you have to look for the colors of their coat and try to get something that is gonna make them look Yeah Bring life to the natural coating or you know, you go something like like this one, for example I believe in collaboration. That's why I love working with Roberto. I love working with different designers for me You know, I I am I just love being surrounded by people that are creative Because like my juices, you know, that's how you get from there, you know I just I that's like my biggest enjoyment and and to create a community where all what we all support each other And we work together. So this one I didn't made it. Okay. I have a friend her name is Susan Allen and she makes sweaters for dogs Okay, so we're working out again collab going back to the collaboration. Okay, she made me this this beautiful sweater Where you know, we talked about and she added this skirt So even that, you know, it's great for winter because it's gonna keep her warm But at the same time it's not gonna take away the elegance and and the you know, the girl in the fashion Really and the fire they were the girly type of thing because I treat them like if they were like my kids I know they're not children. I don't want You know, they're not sure of course, of course not they're not sure about to me You know, I love mine like if they were my kids, of course and then You know, this is not something shallow to do either because especially like with smaller dogs The temperature here, you know, we're in the eastern region temperature drops a lot and it's a lot colder So they do need something to keep the warm of their body. We're just doing it in fashion Yeah If you're gonna do something do it right. So, you know, that's what we're doing So, you know, but I get a lot of flak from making dog I mean designed for dogs like the people ever come out to you like, oh, why are you doing this or you know Well, you have both sides, you know And both sides are very very passionate like everything live you have the you know, the ones that I agree the ones I don't agree. The ones that don't agree. I respect their opinion But I just keep my ears chopped and keep going because I have a goal and I have already an objective that I'm doing again I respect them and and you know, and I always say well, you don't like it. You just don't do it But but if you enjoy it, you know There's also a way of doing it in a way where we do it correctly as the professionals and then we bring education through it You know, because it's a lot of fun raisers and there's always something behind it. Yes. That's positive Yes, yes. No, we do, you know, of course, you know, I mean, of course my dogs are home. I make it Lady Godiva, they're naked When we come out people respect them to be wearing something because that's what we do and then they are already Understanding you know, that's the personality. That's who we are and they expect to see something and sometimes it's a little challenging Because then you know when you have that expectation, you know, it's a big weight on your shoulders And you and there's always, you know Always trying to figure out what is going to be the next step and it's not easy It's a lot of sleepless nights Because sometimes when you wake up one day you are designing and you said I just want to make one dress for my dog And that's it and go and have fun But sometimes you just don't want to dress up your dog. Sometimes I'm lazy I just want to carry my dog and you know, just go for a typical walk But when you go out people are expecting you already to have your dog with a dress Not just because you are a designer, but that's like the signature mark that we have So every time they see us, they are expecting us just to look fabulous So sometimes we call out like a mess, but if they are great Because nobody's looking at us I can't you know, I can have you know a bag over my head and people wouldn't even notice But it's not because like, you know, when I first started in 2005, this was not something common in the city So obviously I turned around a lot of heads of me walking with my dog's all dressed up Now it is something so common that if she doesn't have anything on then they look at me I don't make it You know what happens something is wrong. I say, okay, you know, so do you When you guys How do you guys meet and I mean because I know you guys are both totally two different Designers, and how did you guys meet and do you guys feel like you guys are a threat to each other or What me? I don't know I That's a good really good question that you're having because I the first day that for that competition the beauty pageant That's when I met Ada at the end of the show Ada was outside and I was coming out and Ada and I met and we're all Complimenting each other complimenting each other and I knew about her because of her background She's been already as I said before she also inspired me as Latina that she is when I saw her was like, well, she's Latina She had a big accent as me You know if she did it I can do it but showing my own perspective of my own point of view She have you know, I don't think we are threatened by each other No, I think there is business for everyone in this industry and also we are trying to encourage more people Very bold because it's not fun. If we are just competing me and Ada So me and Ada have a really good relationship We're also working on your line that we are working together for dogs Also, we have more events coming in so that we are really excited that will be showing the future and It's a lot of fun. We know Bad feelings to each other, you know, we just designed and We started doing this because we love our animals and animals are you know supposed to bond each? You know people around and you know, they give you comfort and that look at this. I mean look how comfortable We had the same we had the same passion about our animals and at the end is it's not really about the fashion It's really about the love and the bonding that we have with our pets and how we share that and we just show it through You know something that we find fun and creative to do exactly Now, I know you guys brought me some clothes and I wanted to see if you guys can show me what you guys made Oh, okay So well, I talked already about the sweater that my friend Susan is making for me and we're gonna have plenty Yeah, I love that. Yes. We have one here guys. This is made by heckling couture Yes, that's one of my designs. Actually, I made this dress for the Alzheimer's Association a fundraiser event Mm-hmm. So you guys can see that we just not support dog events and education about awareness and adoptions and spaying neuter We also like to support all their is well, I'm sorry to correct myself, but we also like to support all their Organizations related because they are getting more educated as it as a before before probably was not come so common But now people is getting more involved in paying attention to the dog So we made this dress for this organization to match the thing of the party that they were having at the event at That gala and we are selling it was one of the item for the silent auction Nice that we designed, you know, I had feathers Swarovski crystal elements That were beaded to this dress and as I said, it's comfortable wearable for the dogs and And how long does it usually take you to make a dress like this? Well to make a dress like this Well, every dress is like a new challenge for us because we are creating I personally I'm always creating as Eda too So we we don't know how long it's going to take sometimes you put one dress on hold until the inspiration comes out But sometimes you can make a dress in two three hours wasn't it could take you 12 hours because once you get that juice You can't stop Yes, you have you you have yours to do it. You have just to finish it because it's like, you know Seeing, you know, as your your art coming to life Exactly. It's like art. That's that's how we classify our pieces more like pieces of art We don't like to repeat dresses. We make every single line of dress that we do is One time when made for a specific client because it's boring when you go out Also for us to make the same dress Okay, we don't want you know now because there are so many pet friendly events in the city or around the nation Let you say, you know, but just like us, you know, we don't want our pets to be wearing the same outfit That I know the pet is wearing because then we get embarrassed and then they think You know what happens He might get jealous of well, I don't know The owners will get They don't like to do that. And then, you know, it takes away from the fund. So it it it shows more On the creativity part of of the person who's who's who's the owners of the dog Exactly because I mean, I know exactly what you're saying because like, um with photography when I do photography I don't ever want to create the same thing again. You know, I want to change it again Whatever it is that I'm feeling I got to get inspired. Yes. It's all about inspiration and take it could take hours Yeah, and basically days too. And also as you can see all these trades We don't have nobody making them for us. We are making and working hours Supervising every single detail to make sure that when we deliver these creations, they are Well made and according to our expectation with that signature and we each one of us extra touch Because you can tell you can see the difference for every single designer All this one is this designer you can even tell just to watching other dresses. So that's You know, that's what makes me special once you are in in in the same environment, let's say, uh, you know A person that then understand and also the different pet fashion designers that are available out there Once they see an outfit, they know instantly who it belongs to Nice because you made your own signature. Yeah, because we are all so different even that we're doing the same But each of us has like a different eye a different vision of what you know, they feel like the pet has to look Okay, do you guys ever like when you have you guys ever had a competition against each other? Well, we don't compete to each other For example clients come to it and say, oh, I want you to make this creation It'll show her point of view. Some people come to me. I want to for example They said, oh create something for me. Some people don't even tell me What they're gonna be for example for in my case my strongest season is halloween As a rise know is the the holidays of your best season As well and people comes to halloween. They say roberto I'm going to dress up like this while you're going to make for me Exactly and then I just create and go with the flow. Did you bring one of your halloween outfit? Yes, actually I made This one my client she wants to get inspired in the black swam And we decided to bring And I decided to make this one for her To represent the movie and we made the the wings Completely full of feathers. We are nice structures So it can be comfortable for the dog to wear And it might look a little bit as you can see in the camera And when you put on the dog, well, if you want we can try it on vanilla. We can try it on vanilla While while while you guys show another outfit You see oh vanela is getting vanela is getting undress on camera Oh Oh No What would you call it, right? So this is a little elaborated gown that we made with feathers and adding a little sequence and Increased those basically I don't want to add more to more details because we don't want to make it too heavy for the dog To wear and you see how easy it is to fit. Wow, that's easy to wear And we just add this little strap on with velcro while we may as well so it can give support And and there she is and you will see her walking right now Beautiful and look like a black swan That's nice and it looks comfortable. They're very comfortable. You think we can put on the floor so they can see her walking Come on enough. She shakes that's normal You can carry that There she is But basically that's also one of my main goals make sure that every custom that I made for for my clients They have to be wearable Recently we made a huge Um, how do you call? I don't know if I'm supposed to say this but they will kill me I make a huge custom for halloween. It's like a peacock custom That will be competing this week at the tomkin squares part Tomkin square park parade with one of my clients And you can see the dog running around with these big feathers in green and blue Really cute I just wonder sometimes like how they're feeling like having all the cameras on them and Like you know, I think they enjoy the attention of the camera, you know, it's dogs dogs respond to praise And by having them, you know, when when we have them wearing outfits, they get they get a lot of praise So they relate that to attention and they tend to like it Um, you know, I always watch for how their mood is on that day also because Just like oh, sometimes they're not up to the part and that's why probably I have so many I leave one and I grab the other one, you know, for me it's as simple as that Yeah, for me it's as simple as that But you know, it it definitely has to be something that the animal enjoys I don't like to to push animals to do something that That they're not comfortable with because Priority is their safety and their security and that they are loved and cared for, you know, with or without clothes They are yeah, they are your pets. You care for them and treat them, you know The best that you can I know I love No Don't still her I know right. I'm like, but that one is that one is taking I don't want to go home with me Right, but as you know, there are many shelters now that are taking that you like to take our dogs As you know, some of my dogs are rescued too, and I couldn't speak by myself That there are many dogs in need outside too as well like different rescue groups. We were also we in keep lucy That come that is one of the organizations located in Puerto Rico and they bring pets to To the u.s. States through Miami, New York and other waggy tail rescue Animal haven Chong Casey animal rescue I mean, there's a lot of groups in the city that are constantly saving and rescuing animals Not only dogs cats birds whatever, you know I mean you go to Chong Casey rescue and then you will see madagascar roaches parrots You know, they even find, you know, little alligators Some of these animals are not legal to have in New York like ferrets also So but there are other states that allow them so they go With a group of them and then they go to different to these other states where they can have them adopted out And of course person have the people have to fill out the the requirements all of that But because right now I know like I've heard on the news that a lot of people have been stealing animal Yeah, which they've been having a lot of issues with that lately Well, that that's something that started listen again, you know, I started in 2005 But uh Probably around 2006 we had a case of a little yorkie that was stolen And the owner sold for a big reward that they ended up paying and the dog was returned for what I understand But this is something that that it became a trend. So that's why in a way Uh, that started to make me also wear on my own animals and be a little careful where we were going Unfortunately, some kids find that fun That all the when they see owners walking their dogs in the park and then they go running cut the leash So the animal goes and run You see that was another trend that was happening in thumpkin square park and in union square park Oh, wow. So you see when when you have yeah, unfortunately, you know, again, you know, there's the good about why they do it Who knows, you know, yeah, for me, you know, they need help. Don't do that kids Stay away from cutting people's dogs and leeches. Yeah, it's not cool Yeah, you know, if you wouldn't want it to happen to you. So don't do it Also their own kids is basically Some people your own child, you know, it's like If I had a fish, I mean, you know or whatever a cat I wouldn't want somebody to come and harm my they are jeopardizing the life of the animal because obviously when you have a pet in In a leech The owner is controlling that the animal first doesn't hurt another person or they don't get hurt themselves So by the moment that they got off leash in a public space like that Why could be overwhelming and then there's no control over what anything can happen because at the end As good as vanilla is and behave as she is at the end She's an animal and I cannot guarantee a hundred percent how she's going to react So I always, you know, I am the human. I'm the one with the brains. I'm the one who has to think You know, and how I'm be prepared So, you know, when somebody does something like that when they call the leash of an animal just to see them run They're jeopardizing the life of that pet because they can run to the streets and get hurt or It can get so scared that it can attack a person or a child Imagine if if a parent's walking with a child the animal is so scared that jump and I hurt the child You know, so there's a lot of things that goes into it and people don't think about But you know, but maybe but you know, it's good for them to be dressed So that way they're easy to identify you can pick them right away Now show me some more dresses. Let's see what what you have. You know, no, you're so Yeah, let's start with you. Okay. Well, I have one outfit that I that I wanted to show you and I wanted to share And this is like an oldie but goody Okay, I did this outfit for For a fissure on on FIT for pet fashion week here in New York City And he's a and I and he's from the collection of the Mulan Rouge It was it It was shown for the first time on the pre-west mr. Fashion show That's a show that I am the creative director and fashion designer for seven years now The next one is happening on February 10 of 2012 And this is from the collection of the Mulan Rouge It's a French black ribbons with sequins and embroidery Uh, it has the I wanted a lot of detail I wanted to give the feeling of a of a you know, like a renaissance era or or a very victorian Romantic times for her and then I have a friend again Collaboration I have a friend her name is Nina who makes hats for dogs Um, yeah, her name is what she has Luna's brat pack And then she made me the hat to go with with that and then So vanilla So she made the hat to go to match on the dress that dress I call it the enterprise because it has gone where I haven't gone It has been featured in pet fashion week Tokyo pet fashion week, brasil pet fashion week, new york Um, and then I keep featuring because it's just social unique piece and and I'm very proud of making it. Yeah And then did I take you This took me a while because if first of all I have I had another idea of mine and then didn't come up as You know, like Roberto says I wanted to make something that vanilla was comfortable with and she will will be able to walk on the wrong way Um, the other design came a little too strong So I have to do a few changes. But then, you know, I look for fabric that I love satin. I love working with satin. Yes, because he's uh, it's very soft And then it doesn't match their coat when they're wearing it You have to think like there's a little yorkie some old Jesus. I have a lot. I have a lot of long coat, uh clients dogs And then I'm always looking for fabric that is not going to, uh, you know Jeopardize their coat or or hurt them in any way. So satin is one of my favorites. Very nice Um, what do we have here? Well, we have here a little Black gown that I made for a poppy prong that one of my dogs was wearing actually and this one We already, you know a little sequence on the neck and a little details over here to resolve the colors of the yellow And match with the pink flowers. Also, we have here some Embroiding materials in black sequins as well So it can match with like a little bit more a little french style color Culture on this on this gun. I like to play a lot with cultures. I have made arabian prints, egyptians You know, I like to play with the culture and incorporate them into into my fashions. That's awesome And so this I have one dress of yours here that interests me the most Yeah, well, that's very like Chick, you gotta be very hip That you know, first of all, you know that I made that for an episode where I was a pet stylist Ice loves coco and they have a bulldog named spartakas Spartakas Birthday is on february and they wanted to have something that would be trendy and good for the birthday So that's why the birthday hat But then, you know Coco gave me the feeling of being a very trendy girl And then I thought, you know Having a spartakas in kind of tattoos, but of course you cannot make the tools on the dog But you can do it on the outfit And that's where the whole idea of the skulls and the rows and the heart came up came about This is very nice And that's like a nice vest and he looked he looked so cute in it And that's another episode. I mean he had in the whole he had a whole collection of outfits that are made for him This is really good Yeah, he he I mean it's just like the detail and everything that you guys do is just Amazing, you know, I mean this Well, you know, we take a lot of time and effort on thinking of you know First the ideas that come to mind how to make them How to create them how to make them possible and then after that, you know You have to look for fabrics for the threads for the, you know, it's a lot of things that that goes into it It's a lot of love A lot of love and then when you finally, you know Come out with something that you are that you're satisfied You're very proud of then you show it off and then and then even more when a person feels Identified with that outfit and they want to buy it for their dog I mean my biggest thrill probably is when I go somewhere and I see or people send me pictures Of their dogs wearing my outfits. I just That's the biggest thrill that I get. I know I bet the client they They're like in love with you. Well, I mean Like they must be like, oh my god I'm in love with them because they're also different, you know different breeds different coats different colors You know is is is like a melting pot in there with the animals and now, you know, I like I said, you know It's not only the dogs. I jumped to the cats I'm I did oh now let me ask you about the cats because I know the cats are a little jumpy. They're more You know not so like dogs Well, um, you know, amazingly first of all, let me just say that I've been into the cat world Just for a year when we rescue martini and her cat thinks he's such a wow Yeah, my cat I think he's a long coachy wow and he has been in like an eye opening for me This is a cat that was on the streets And it was found by this girl named Catherine Walton and thanks to him She created the street cat the american street cat which is an organization now in brooklyn That is dedicated to save the neighborhood, you know cats and then My cat martini and some of her cats that she has rescued even though they come from the street We have been able to dress them Really? So I have I guess yes. Yes. And then actually I'm working with Diane West who is the New York City cat meetup organizer to see if we can have a little cat fashion show in december Wow Give me an invite for that one You can see that rescued pets can be trained That doesn't mean that they can be harmful because many people have the How you say the idea that by going to a shelter resting a cat or though They might be getting a dog with a lot of issues that they wouldn't be able to control Yeah, they can be trained and they can be and they can be really great But they just have this personality because they want the tension they want the love and that's what they're getting You know my cat thinks he is you know the biggest thing on this planet where he gets dressed in a tuxedo and a hat And he's a tina's best friend by the way Martini loves a tina Yeah, so you know it's you know, I mean all I try to use this as a way to create awareness and attention to the animals Mostly so people can see you know that it's not just having a pet at home Or in the bag you know people I mean we live in the city. We don't have my our backyard is new york city So we have a lot of places we can go but let's say people in the country the servers that have a backyard They leave their dogs in there You know, it's just a way that i'm trying to use to communicate that they can bond with the animals doing different things and have fun With them and have them become members of their family You know, it's it's as simple as that and then uh, you know, just do it through something that is fun You might not like to do it, you know all the time. You don't have to you know, just Yeah Yes, no, you know just like now like for halloween, you know now is the howling wind for the dogs So when people are so creative and they just come up with great ideas or ask designers, you know, like roberto Which make the best customers You know to come up with something so they can go to events with their pets and enjoy it You know, so the whole idea shows that is you know I we we don't want to to to lose the focus that You know, it's at the end. It's all about the pet You have to be really hard on our feet and put it on there because sometimes people Think that we are just doing this for fashion It's really hard for us when you know when you are in on this drink and really competitive in industry being able to create your fashions and people just point at you and think that we are doing this just as i said before fashion and dressing up their dog and they think it's hard for them But now we are using this as a communication, education and prevention, you know, because after people get all their education We can prevent many cases of puppy meals Living animals, let me tell you a person that is going to invest Let's just say minimum a $50 on an outfit a unique outfit 60 or $100 and the higher it goes But the more you think not not because we're not not not putting You know value on love and care, but of course You're not going to put that amount of money in something that you're just going to drop on the shoulder Exactly. So you see so it's I kind of relate one with the other and put it, you know, connected so So if a dog has a whole closet, honey is staying home forever So a lot of bottles we have to make spacing our closet flowers So you guys think I have some damn questions for you guys. Okay. Yeah, okay Bring them out here. I'm young, beautiful and I love everybody Exactly I have a question from Lisa Alexander from New York City. Okay She says which is your favorite pet design for and what are the differences? And also, what is your favorite pet in the house hint hint? Okay, my my favorite, uh, what pet fashion design Um, what's your favorite pet design for and what are the differences? Okay, my favorite fashion design I would say the harnesses and the matching beaches Because they they're more like a daily wear outfit And you can just take them to the park or you know, if you have to run to an event You can they can go to the event at the same time and they still look You know playing the part wearing something, you know, uh Which one is my favorite pet at home? Martini Yeah Well, I love all my pets equally But I have to say that, you know, since martini came to our live the cat. He has brought another How can I say he has brought he has like kind of been kind of an eye opener. I have made me think on Coming out of the box and not thinking on dressing just dogs but dressing cats or rats Or other pets and I'm just you know, I'm just going in an evolution now. Thanks to martini Where I am trying to reach other kind of pets of type of pets where I can have the same fun That's awesome. So if you have other pets pigs Anything Oh my god. Yeah, he's always on your challenge. Yeah, of course. Maybe I probably pig a horse, you know, I don't know if I could have a pig They're actually very popular and in America and they're very cute Very smart. They're they I don't have a cable what I have heard They are very dog-like and behave and they are as as quick learners as the dogs So now what about you? Well, what's my favorite designs? I will say as I said before halloween I think that's where I can express myself. I can use from further from rhinestones from colors and go Crazy, I can let my imagination go and put it on the dog. Of course in a safety way and I think that's one of my favorite designs because I feel like Most of the times people always like matching outfits for with the clients I love doing that too when clients have a dress or something Around that they want to wear for a red carpet and they come to us and they say roberto I want to to create something to match my outfit. That's where I let my inspiration going. I just enjoy it Also as the cost of my favorite pet will be I have my four dogs You know people say I love all of them But I will say hecklings and she was my first dog. Okay, and you know, she was like the stepping stone for me That's why she has that kind of hair Yeah But what can we do? What can we do in this? I don't know. But basically I think I will say hecklings and you know, I never had a dog before and I was Wanted and I was so blessed to that she was given to me and I have a Whole process with her when I got her and I feel so in touch because I have to bring her to school To my job because she was a little sick puppy when she was like three weeks old when I rescued her and For me, I will say that she's like the one who's more close to me But that doesn't mean that I don't love my other pets and all the pets around She's someone that inspired you. Yeah, she's the inspiring. I will say that she's the one that set my point at that moment like she marked But every single dog have been marking my life too as well because they've been doing Different things we all to each one of their stories. You learn something new each pets have a different Totally personality. Yes that some people think we are crazy. We say, oh my dog do this and they act like this and do And do one action like the other one or jump over there people think like Oh, I don't think a pet would be doing that or the face expression of the dog You can even tell and it's something that I have learned with my dogs to each one of them I could tell you that Athena She's the spoiled one. She likes to be carry pampered and love around heckling. She have a diva attitude She wants to be on her own She just wants to be running around and of course next to me DJ. He's a charm one He's really smart. He will try to find a way to escape or to jump or to go through One show to another one and what about abby abby's My baby I think sometimes I feel bad myself because I have so much love for abby because she likes to To coral too much. She demands the attention. She goes to straight to your friend She will be like give me kisses lick me and she start biting you and giving you kiss She's like the wild dog of the house Like the crazy one. She will be running around and That I think that's the one who captivated me the most like she kicked me out of my home. The wild dog is me That's what I thought I would yeah Okay, so I have another fashion. It's out there. It's out How has getting involved in the dog world changed your lives? Do you think it's changed you as a person? This is from sofia cotsia. Oh, absolutely when you know, uh I I am from Puerto Rico really from Puerto Rico when I came here. I was very much aware on my language limitation I'm still out because my my mind is always in Spanish mode I don't change that so sometimes when it comes out It doesn't come out the way that I would really like maybe the pronunciation what I really want to say because words can differ and be Uh a different meaning just by translating. So I was very aware for that So I I I was uh, you can say I was shy and quiet And then I got my you know, my first dog and it was like I started to make friends immediately People started to notice me and then it gave me, you know, it gave me like Like like a comfort feeling because I saw how all the people were relating to me for the love of my pet And and I kind of said, you know what there's so many we we are in new york This is the melting pot. We have people from all cultures and backgrounds and languages And we all understand each other. So, you know what if at the end they don't know what I'm saying I go sign language, you know Or you'll say yes See see see jose So no, that's a little so my life absolutely changed in them and then people started noticing me and started to make friends And then that made me change the industry that I was working at to the dog one And it has been, you know, an amazing list of of blaze blessings and and and You know amazing things that have happened since and I am just so grateful for the people that uh, you know Take this old crazy woman with all her legs with all her dolls and the cat and everything, you know And and they just send me as you know, who I am and the way I am and It is you know, I've been very lucky Well, all my kids I will say that They changed my life a lot because when I don't come to your life. They bring a lot of joy and happiness Not just is that as a companion? But as support sometimes you feel you can feel one day sad and they can give you Diastromat is somebody that you have to live for too as well because they pain from you So you have to be on top like it's like people say Hey, when we say this sometimes, but they're like child for us So we have to be on top of them taking care of them feeding them And other hundred things taking them to their doctors and those are things that make you give you more responsibility in your life That way before I go I never had And we all those responsibilities that came came a lot of joy. They make me happy as Eira said It makes you introduce to a new different world that I never Even thought of to be because even thought of right now Where I am or we are we are right now is because of our pets and the love that we have for them And all the effort that we put on them because we never were looking for this is something that they brought to us We got them we start doing this for love to them and look where we are right now it becomes like a A new journey that keeps changing and changing every day and we keep learning something new This is something that we bond, you know, we relate to other people and and they understand it because if they have the same passion The same passion with their pets as we do Exactly So now let me ask um, what what are you guys working on now? Like what is coming up for you guys? Well, wow, we have a lot of things. Okay like for me. So, uh, I know that roberto has a fashion show on october 28 Yeah, we are having that fashion show at the roger smith hotel. We are supporting the mayor alliance And this will be a fashion show where I will be showing a little collection for christmas a little preview collection of All my christmas dresses and tuxedos and both at the same time We're gonna have performers over there on where we have mr Pivas over here that will be singing opening my fashion show. Yes, make sure you guys come I'm gonna be performing. Yeah, as we say it's in support. I'm gonna be first row It is a it's a fundraiser event and to support, you know, those pets in needs Also, it's gonna be a halloween costume bubble where people can come and dress up And we're gonna have a contest and it's for bobby and the straight I'm sorry, but bobby and the straights that we call pops on the wrong way this show So I'm really happy that dana homefree and bobby michelin invited me to form part of this amazing event I can't wait. Isn't it? Yeah, we are looking forward to it and then on november 13 We're not working. They go and get the tickets. Oh, yeah, they can go to evenbright.com and By their tickets or also they can follow me on my page on heckling Couture for dogs by robert on it on facebook and there you can get all the links related to this event Okay, and then aida. What do you got coming? Well, I have two big shows coming up I'm maybe a 30th. We the cat fashion show in december But before that on november 13th We're having the first pet fashion show at bryan park and then that one we're doing it in collaboration with best bodies That's an organization that helps children with disabilities So it's very dear to me. Yes, and then uh, the the organizer is Alice on joseph Maureen who are the author and the graphic designer of a book called carlos increase christmas feed christmas feed christmas and carlos carlos is a french bulldog that Goes around the city and have different adventures and then he has his Family that make these books and tell everybody about it So so they are the ones who who do this event in bryan park every year and they invite me to be part of it And then we just we just love it and then the other one My baby the previous mr. Fashion show on february 10 2012 Where we have a display of the of pet fashions The latest products in the market an exhibition of that and then My my pride which is the awards ceremony where we give recognition to people from the dog community or the pet community And we recognize their efforts and the hard work that they do throughout the year And you know and give them give them the red give them the recognition they deserve For being involved in the community for being uh people that and and the pets, you know Do something to to help build the community and to make this a better world now Um where you said that's going to be a convention type thing Yes, the previous mr. Fashion show happens Previous minister with the west minister is the kennel club dog show that happens every year Our show happens the friday before The pennsylvania hotel, which by the way is getting the award for the most Pet friendly hotel of the year Because we've been doing this for seven years with them And then where do you want everybody? If they want to look up that information, what's your website? The previous mr. Fashion dot com and then what's your website? www.adanieves.com very simple my name at the dot com and you find me yeah Guys make sure to look up for adan avias nieves dot com and also heckling For dogs on facebook and heckling dot com And thank you guys for watching the peevast show and thank you guys for coming. I really appreciate it And see you next time. Oh, thank you so much for having us. Bye He's