Our Story
The Mrs behind the Mister
BEHIND THE BRAND
Hi, I’m Irene, the founder and designer behind Mister Woof.
Mister Woof began with my first dog, Harper, an Italian Greyhound with a love for sunbathing and an even greater need for a good jumper. When I first started looking for dog clothing and accessories, the best options I could find were from large, commercial retailers... nothing that reflected the design sensibility I loved.
With a background in fashion and design, I started making clothing for Harper myself. What began as a few jumpers soon turned into something more and that’s when the idea for Mister Woof was born.
The name behind the brand
Where did the name come from?
I loved the idea of something ‘dog related’, but not so it hit you in the face. I wanted it to feel a little bit chic, memorable, playful and effortlessly stylish. I played on the name Mister because it brought a sense of personality and charm, almost like he could be a real character.
I wanted a name that could just as easily belong to a human clothing label as it could a dog brand. The ethos for Mister Woof has always been to design pieces I’d genuinely want in human form: minimal, timeless and considered.
When Mister Woof rolled off the tongue during a brainstorm with my then-partner (now husband), we both instantly knew it was the one. Even now, when people ask what my brand is called and I say Mister Woof, I still get, “Oh, that’s cool” and it always makes me smile.
From silly captions to serious style
How it all began
I started Mister Woof by creating an Instagram account, posting photos of dogs with silly captions... it felt like my alter ego. This was well before “dog influencer” culture was a thing. I began sending out my handmade jumpers, leads and collars to a few dogs I followed online, and in return, they’d take photos wearing them.
What started as a fun creative outlet quickly grew. The more I designed, the more I saw a community forming around it. Soon, I expanded into knitwear, harnesses and a full range of accessories. All designed with the same attention to detail and sense of style I’d want in my own wardrobe.
Then came 2020, and with it, my first Teddy Jumper. If only I knew how big that was going to be. Since then, it’s become one of our most-loved pieces. Selling out in countless colours and returning each winter, which also happens to be my favourite season to design for.