Dog lover inspired to start pet clothing store

November 06, 2023
Shasha-Gaye Thomas and her dog Blaze, the inspiration for her pet attire business.
Shasha-Gaye Thomas and her dog Blaze, the inspiration for her pet attire business.
Eight-month-old Shih Tzu Blaze in a trendy outfit.
Eight-month-old Shih Tzu Blaze in a trendy outfit.
One of the eye-catching doggie outfits that Thomas sells from her online-based store, Pawsome Fashionistas.
One of the eye-catching doggie outfits that Thomas sells from her online-based store, Pawsome Fashionistas.
1
2
3

Inspired by her love for her eight-month-old Shih Tzu, Blaze, 27-year-old Shasha-Gaye Thomas is now on a mission to show Jamaica that pets should be just as fashionable as people.

She told THE STAR that when she initially got her dog, she just wanted him to be a fashionista like her. But after struggling to find unique and authentic clothing for her fur baby, she realised that there is a need for a pet clothing store in Jamaica.

"So I decided that, look, mi aguh start buy clothes fi mi dog, and each time mi duh that, mi normally would a guh places, and people normally ask mi, 'Where yuh get that outfit?' Suh mi seh 'Yuh know what? I'm going to turn this into a business'," Thomas said.

"The vision is to become the leading provider of stylish and high-quality pet clothing. Mi wah create a wide range of pet clothing, because is not just humans that need clothes," Thomas added.

Thomas launched her online pet clothing store Pawsome Fashionistas three weeks ago. She currently sells clothing, shoes, carriers and harnesses for dogs, but hopes to sell items for cats as well. She gets some of her items from popular brand Shein.

She said that Blaze, the ambassador of her business, is more than her best friend; he is like her second child that she carries around everywhere she goes.

"Mi dress him up, mi tek him picture, mi a carry him pan the road and everybody love him. Mi carry him guh everywhere. I do everything with him," said Thomas, who also has a nine-year-old son.

She added that Blaze has tremendously changed her life for the better.

"Mi get fi show love more, and mi neva yet get dem amount a love deh. It all mek mi stay inside more, because him aguh always wah come wid mi, and mi nuh want him feel like 'mi owner always leave mi'. Mi nuh wah leave him fi long," Thomas said.

She advised persons to show more love and appreciation for dogs and to stop being cruel to them, because their love is unlike any other.

"A dog is your best friend; nuhbody nah show yuh dem kinda love deh. Suh cruelty to dogs, it just come een like you're killing a child," Thomas said.

"Give them love. If yuh deal wid dem aggressive, dem aguh fraid a yuh. Deal wid yuh dog wid love, then now you will understand your dog," Thomas added.

Other News Stories