BARKER(shop2.barkershop.cafe24.com) is a pet fashion brand that is quickly gaining recognition from dog lovers around the world. The brand carries a line of fashionable dog clothing as well as collars and harnesses that are specifically designed to minimize pet discomfort. Every year, BARKER is experiencing a growth rate of 200% due to overwhelming approval from fans.
CEO Kim Ji-Young started BARKER in 2015 following his return to Korea after studying Merchandising at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. He launched his own brand after noticing that Korea’s pet product market was promising.
BARKER has a range of dog clothing that includes jackets, knitwear, shirts, and T-shirts, among others. The designs are all purposed to reflect people’s trendy fashion styles so owners can match their looks with their furry friends. The best feature, however, is that they are made with quality fabrics such as natural fiber to reduce skin chafing.
Collars and harnesses are also wrapped in the same fabric and produced using BARKER’s own technique. This extra lining of fabric protects dogs from leather or nylon straps rubbing against their skin, ultimately alleviating a common stress factor.
CEO Kim said, “All collars and harnesses passed the Korea Apparel Testing & Research Institute(KATRI)’s tensile strength tests.” He explained, “Our products can each handle up to 1 ton in weight, which means that they will withstand the strength of larger dogs and ultimately minimize possible safety accidents.”
The company has seen its global sales climb and over 40% of total sales volume occur from outside Korea. Beginning this year, BARKER launched an English version of its online shopping site through global e-commerce platform, cafe24(www.cafe24corp.com/en). Products are also available at local boutique stores in the United States, Taiwan, and Japan.
CEO Kim said, “Our brand name is steadily gaining recognition from dog lovers around the world ever since popular dogs online have begun sporting our goods.” He added “Customers in America especially make up over 40% of global sales.”
Every season, BARKER produces lookbooks for both Korean and global customers. Global lookbooks include more detailed images and thorough descriptions regarding material and size for overseas customers who have limited access to products offline. The brand is currently trading with approximately 30 different global businesses.
CEO Kim said, “In the long term, BARKER is planning to officially launch in different markets including China and further diversify product lines to include carriers.” He said, “I hope that BARKER can play a part in bringing pet owners and their dogs closer together.”
Staff Reporter Yoon, Heeseok | pioneer@etnews.com