They're showered with couture clothing of every imaginable exotic fabric adorned with jewels, faux fur, gold and silver. No luxury is too expensive for their discerning taste. Are we talking about today's mega-millionaire movie-stars? No, the subject is celebrities’pampered pooches.
Jake Dynnis has a unique role in Hollywood – she is the “Dog Tailor to the Stars”TM, the title in which was granted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and In Style Magazine. In the past few years, Jake’s handcrafted, original creations have brought her a client list that sounds like the talent roster of CAA.Jessica Alba, Amanda Seyfried, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, Ashton Kucher, Julian McMahon, Kelly Hu, Zach Braff, Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, Andrew Keegan, Lacie Chabert, Tori Spelling, Tom Skerritt, Sharon Osborne, the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Paula Abdul are just a few of the celebrities that own her unique line of pet couture.
As a result of her one-of-a-kind profession, she has formed close bonds and friendships with many of her star clients. As Jake explains, “Celebrities are naturally suspicious of strangers since it seems everyone they meet wants something from them. As soon as I show them my creations, their reservations instantly fade. The common love of animals and a custom-made garment for their furry loved one creates the ultimate bonding experience. Usually 15 minutes after I meet a new celebrity client, I have my first order and a hug.”
Dynnis has been so successful with her handmade canine couture that she formed her own corporation in January 2005. Recently, Jake was commissioned by Walt Disney’s production of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 to design some of her lavish doggie couture to be worn by the lead dog characters and they featured her very own “surfdawg” cartoon t-shirts for this 2011 movie release. Other luxurious jackrocketwear products including the “June Buggle Snuggle Beds tm” have been featured on E! Entertainment’s “Daily 10” Holiday Gift Guide and the hand-made couture, luxury blankets, gourmet doggie delicacies; “Pawdivaz”, “Mango Paw-Paya” Paw Balm and “Coco-Mutt Pineapple” shampoo were included in the 2006 Golden Globes Presenter Gift Basket (each basket was valued at over $62K and the items were hand selected by members of the HFPA in association with In Style). Jake and her three dogs, Yoda, Gigi and Junebug were invited to appear at the 2006 Annual Golden Globe Awards. They walked the Red Carpet and were interviewed by CNN and E!. Shortly thereafter, Jake hosted her own segment on The TV Guide Channel for The Academy Awards, “Doggie Couture Oscar Style.” All of Jake’s appearances can be watched online at jackrocketwear.com/press.php.
Jake’s business is expanding quickly with a new baby product launch on the horizon, she is being flooded with offers from trendy boutiques. Currently, her “jackrocketwear” couture line can be found in several high end doggie boutiques across the country and overseas. Jake’s couture creations cover a wide range of clothing, including matching owner and pet fashions,hand-knit sweaters, hats and gloves (made from only 100% fine, imported angora, cashmere and cotton), Swarovski crystal-one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly, doggie t-shirts & NEW Vintage Neck-tie harness t-shirts, extravagant Tuxedo shirts with tails and a NEW convertible dog carrier-bed with imported faux chinchilla fur you’d swear was real. The launch of the new baby line is scheduled for this fall 2011. Some of these products are available for purchase at Jackrocketwear.com.
Jake’s beginning as Hollywood’s number one dog tailor happened by accident. Seven years ago, she discovered that her beloved Italian Greyhound, Jack Rocket, was born with a congenital kidney defect. He remained extremely small for his breed and shivered even on the warmest of days, which inspired Jake to create various cashmere and angora sweaters to keep him warm. Before long, her handmade eccentric designs caught the eye of Santa Monica-based Fred Segal boutique owner Bettina Duncan. Soon thereafter, Jake had a display of her jackrocketwear line at the fashionable boutique and quickly developed a fan base. She found herself being constantly approached with requests for her one-of-a-kind clothing by envious strangers when simply walking down the street. Her phone began ringing off the hook. Some of her early celebrity clients include: Tori Spelling & her dog Mimi La Rue, Paris Hilton & her dog Tinkerbell, Jessica Simpson & her dog Daisy, and Kelly Hu & her dog Mushu.
Jake stays involved with her favorite dog charities, The Rescue Train,Friends of Animals Foundation, Glimmer of Life, Much Love, The Amanda Foundation and The Animal Alliance. Jake Launched a Jackrocketwear Spring Fashion line in Palm Springs, preview featured on CBS, (Eye in the Desert). Her fashion show, with guest celebrity walkers, was to benefit “The Friends of Palm Springs Animal Shelter,” a No-Kill shelter. A raffling of beautiful gift baskets full of Jackrocketwear items; including luxury spa products, gourmet Pawdivaz, and couture, raised enough money to feed the entire shelter for three months.
Jackrocketwear was recognized and voted #1 dog couture in Chicago, “The Best of” in North Shore Magazine. Jake’s furry beloved Yorkie, Junebug was also dressed to the nines while featured with Paris Hilton in a photo shoot at the Hollywood Museum which preceded a Nomination from The LA Business Journal for the “Rising Star” category. Jake was commissioned by Christian Audigier (formerly “Von Dutch” designer and partner) to be the exclusive designer for the “Ed Hardy” Pet Couture line and reveal her creations at his 1st Launched Fashion Show. Her “Ed Hardy” designs were a huge hit on the runway worn by her three dogs, Joey, Yoda, and Gigi, accompanied by Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin. Jackrocketwear also ruled the runway at the Sixth Annual “Paws for Style” Red Carpet Charity Event for The Animal Alliance, hosted by Oscar nominee Diane Lane and Animal Fair Magazine. Jake’s designs were worn by Paula Abdul and her three dogs which joined designers Gucci, Juicy Couture and Donald Pliner.
Jackrocketwear has appeared frequently on television including segments on E! Entertainment, TV Guide Channel, CNN, the Fox series “The Simple Life II” (matching couture for Paris Hilton and her dog Tinkerbell) and seen in Tori Spelling’s series “NoTORIus.” Jake’s canine couture has also appeared in InStyle, People, House Beautiful, Celebrity Living, Salon City, WAN, Animal Fair, Pet Age, Dog Aficionado, Hollywood Dog, New York Dog, and many more.
Born and raised in Des Plaines, Illinois, Jake studied the arts throughout her life.After awarded two scholarships for Opera, she minored in design and illustration at The University of Kansas. She continued her education at The International Academy of Fashion Design and Merchandising in Chicago. She revealed a flair for canine fashion design at an early age.“I’m a huge animal lover and was obsessed with animals and dogs as a child,” recalls Jake. “My hero was Snoopy. When I turned 12 and started planning my Bat-mitzvah, I immediately decided to have Snoopy centerpieces. There were 25 tables at the event and each Snoopy was dressed in a different outfit. Talk about foreshadowing!”
Jake carefully measures each animal for every couture design tailored for personal customers or celebrity pets. “Each dog is unique,” says Jake. “There is no specific pattern that fits one body type. I can usual gage the exact size by sight now that I have been tailoring for so long. Before I take my measurements I consider the breed, the coat and age of the dog considering the amount of growth it may still have. I then take the precise weight, neck width, a measurement from neck to tail and a chest measurement or girth around the widest part of the dog I often tailor down. In addition, I try to take an additional measurement for the males… an important consideration that most canine clothing companies don’t accommodate. If the garment is too long the male dog will urinate on it.”
Jake enjoys her rapport with her celebrity clients and enjoys designing her creations with their input. She points out that no request is too bizarre or lavish.“I’m delighted to design whatever floats their bone,” she jokes.
