If you've ever wished your pup's bed could be as cute as they are, artist William Wegman has just thrown you a bone with his newest collection of dog beds and blankets for Crypton fabrics.
The latest collaboration between Wegman and Crypton features a line of pooch beds and blankets — called throvers — made from the company's signature stain-, moisture- and odor-resistant fabrics and spotted with line drawings of the artist's famous Weimaraners.
While turning a dog bed into a work of art is no small feat, Crypton founder and CEO Randy Rubin knew Wegman was the man for the job. The artist is best known for photographing his elegant pooches, dressed up and playfully posed.
However, Wegman didn't bite at first, Rubin said.
In 2004, she sent over some fabrics and talked to Wegman's wife, Christine Burgin, who handles the artist's business affairs. Burgin explained that they had tried to do fabric in the past and weren't interested in trying again.
But, when Burgin spilled a cup of coffee in the middle of the call, Rubin told her it was fate. After all, Rubin's Crypton specializes in spill- and stain-resistant fabrics. She convinced Burgin that they needed to meet, and within five minutes, they were bonded, the CEO said.
They've been working together ever since.
"Between his art and this technology, we've come up with a beautiful thing," Rubin said.
Wegman's designs have been featured on a number of products for Crypton: pillows, tote bags, even butterfly chairs. Their latest collection isn't the first time Wegman has done pet products for the company, but Rubin said the whimsical line drawings the artist created for the beds and throvers make this line particularly special.
"We had so much fun developing it," Rubin said. "It's just happy."
The $95 throvers are reversible and machine-washable throw blankets that keep everything from the couch to the backseat of the car protected from Spot's dirty paws. While they're perfect for pooches, throvers can be used in any situation that calls for a blanket, from an impromptu yoga session to a baby-changing emergency, Rubin said.
The collection also includes a few types of dog beds, such as the $125 bumper bed. The snuggly sleep spot features side walls in contrasting colors and a removable cushion with an angelic "good dog" on one side and a devilish "bad dog" on the other, letting the owner pick what kind of puppy they're dealing with that day.
In addition, there are two-tone PupUp beds ($165) and one-color rectangle beds ($135), all of which are printed with sweet drawings like puppy pyramids and doggy math lessons.
On top of being easy to clean and whimsically printed, the collection is designed to mesh with contemporary home decor, Rubin said. The products come in a range of on-trend colors, such as muted green and soft gray, making them easy to match to home goods from coveted retailers like Pottery Barn.
"It's a chance for people to have a little work of art instead of an ugly dog bed," Rubin said.
The full collection is available online at Crypton.com.
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