🤍 Delivery times are 2-6 weeks .
Materials Guide
Every accessory made in the workshop begins well before the first rivet:
It is born from a choice of materials that are thoughtful, tested, and selected for their durability, comfort, and aesthetics.
Because no two dogs are alike, and no two uses are the same, we have chosen to work with a wide range of premium materials. Each has its own specific characteristics, advantages, and limitations. The aim of this guide is to help you understand these differences so that you can choose the material best suited to your dog, your needs, and your lifestyle .
You will find here:
- a detailed presentation of each material used in the workshop;
- comparative analyses to help you understand their strengths and uses;
- simple guidelines in the form of bullet points to facilitate your choice;
- advice based on field experience and feedback from professionals.
This guide will evolve throughout the workshop, with new developments and innovations.
Welcome to the backstage of materials, where it all begins.
BioThane®
BioThane® is a technical material composed of a textile core coated with a durable polymer. Its smooth, slightly leather-like appearance gives it an elegant and modern look. It is an extremely durable material that is resistant to water, mud, and odors . It cleans in seconds, retains its color over time, and remains supple.
It's the ideal choice for everyday use , for active dogs, or for people who want accessories that are beautiful, reliable, and easy to care for. Its flexibility and comfortable feel make it a very pleasant material for both dog and human.
Hexagonal Strap
The Hexa webbing is recognizable by its hexagonal texture, which offers an ideal grip . Even when wet, it remains stable in the hand, making it a preferred material for physical activities, difficult terrain, or situations where precise control of the dog is required.
Although less strong and less tensile than BioThane®, Hexa webbing remains perfectly suitable for many common uses. Lightweight, flexible, and very easy to handle, it is particularly appreciated for lanyards, where grip and a secure hold are essential. Its more affordable price makes it an attractive option for those who want a functional and pleasant material to use.
With a diameter of approximately 4 mm, it has a braided sheath composed of 32 strands, surrounding an inner core formed of 7 flexible strands: a construction which gives it excellent robustness .
Thanks to a breaking strength of approximately 249 kg per strand , Paracord is among the most reliable ropes in its category: it is highly resistant to traction, repeated tension, moisture and wear.
Finally, its lightweight nature and easy maintenance make it a practical material for everyday use. It is suitable for a variety of uses, especially for active dogs, outdoor activities, or lifestyle accessories that combine style and reliability.
Vesuvius
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is the strongest and most durable material for buckles.
It is highly resistant to moisture, corrosion and oxidation, making it the most reliable choice for heavy-duty use.
However, it can be susceptible to corrosion in highly saline environments, particularly in the case of regular passages at sea, hence the importance of rinsing and drying the accessories thoroughly with clean water after each contact with seawater.
At the workshop, we use stainless steel for hardware such as rivets and rings.
Chrome steel
Chrome-plated steel , on the other hand, consists of a steel base coated with a layer of chromium. It offers a bright and attractive appearance, but it is more susceptible to scratches and more vulnerable to oxidation when the coating is damaged. It is therefore less durable than stainless steel, especially in humid or heavy-duty conditions.
At the workshop, we use chrome plating for certain rivets or carabiners.
Safety carabiners , on the other hand, are made of aluminum , a material that is both lightweight and extremely strong. They incorporate a secure locking system depending on the model: either a quick-release mechanism or a rotating locking system inspired by climbing carabiners, requiring a deliberate action (turning and then engaging) to open.
Their tensile strength is 400 kg , making them suitable for the most demanding constraints.
Unlike traditional models, safety carabiners are more durable and much less likely to break. They are particularly recommended for powerful dogs, reactive dogs, dogs that pull regularly, or any situation where reliable equipment is paramount.
Paradoxically, despite their high strength, aluminum carabiners are often lighter , which also makes them comfortable for small dogs.
In practice, locking carabiners are always preferred for their reliability. Their cost is higher, but this is justified by their level of safety, durability, and performance.
Solid brass is an alloy renowned for its high mechanical strength and durability. It is visually distinguished by its natural golden hue , which lends a warm and premium aesthetic. It is a very reliable hardware material, often used for accessories subjected to high stress.
Compared to stainless steel , brass is generally heavier , which can convey a sense of robustness but also add a slight weight to accessories. Stainless steel remains lighter and more visually neutral, while brass stands out for its character and luxurious appearance.
Cobra® Pro Style Loops
Cobra® Pro Style buckles are designed for heavy-duty use and demanding environments. They offer a breaking load of approximately 900 kg , placing them among the most reliable fastening systems on the market.
Their patented mechanism incorporates internal brass components , allowing them to effectively resist moisture and limit the risk of oxidation. Unlike standard metal buckles, often made of low-grade steel, they guarantee consistent, precise, and durable release, even after years of use.
They are particularly suited to technical harnesses, powerful dogs and intensive use.
Fidlock® magnetic buckles
Fidlock® buckles operate using a smart magnetic system combined with a secure mechanical lock. This technology allows for intuitive, quick, and reliable closure, while preventing accidental openings.
They are particularly relevant for assistance dogs , as they allow for easy handling, even for people with motor impairments, joint pain, or gripping difficulties.
This type of buckle provides a real gain in autonomy and ease of use, without compromising on safety.
Frog Kong® Carabiners
Frog Kong® carabiners are designed for safety and high-performance use. Their automatic mechanism allows for smooth opening and instant closing, while ensuring reliable locking.
Made from a high-strength alloy, they offer an excellent weight/strength ratio, making them particularly interesting for the manufacture of ultra-resistant leashes.
Their robustness (resistant to 2 tons of traction!) and responsiveness make them a preferred choice for powerful dogs, high-stress situations and equipment requiring maximum reliability.
This is a precise, hot-process technique that requires perfect control of temperature and pressure. If not properly executed, this process can either weaken the substrate or damage its surface.
In the workshop, flocking is carried out with great precision to guarantee long-lasting adhesion without damaging the material. It offers a very wide range of possibilities: choice of colors, fonts, symbols, pictograms… It is possible to flock almost any type of text or image, for a customized and aesthetically pleasing result.
Like any custom finish, flocking is more susceptible to abrasion. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid repeated rubbing against the ground, sand, or rough surfaces, as well as prolonged immersion in water, in order to preserve its appearance and durability over time.
Unlike conventional surface techniques, the ink is polymerized by UV light, which allows it to fuse permanently with the substrate .
This process offers exceptional durability: the design won't peel, crack, or break, and it's highly resistant to wear, humidity, and repeated handling. It's one of the most durable personalization techniques currently available for pet accessories.
UV printing allows for almost total creative freedom: complex patterns, fine details, depth effects, gradients, illustrations, logos… with high color fidelity. It is ideal for unique, aesthetically pleasing, and technically advanced creations, without compromising between design and durability.
The different linings
1. Lightweight and waterproof foam
This lining is simple yet effective: it provides comfortable cushioning and doesn't retain water, making it ideal for waterproof collars and harnesses. It's available in a wide range of colors and remains very lightweight, even after immersion or heavy use.
2. Fabrics lined with memory foam
These linings are made of carefully selected fabrics combined with dense memory foam , designed to conform to the dog's shape and distribute pressure points. This structure provides superior comfort while maintaining excellent support over time.
- Sherpa : a soft and warm faux fur, perfect for cozy comfort.
- Soft fabric : ideal for sensitive skin, this fabric is the most pleasant to the touch, for dogs with fragile or reactive skin.
- Faux leather : on request, for a premium , elegant and refined look, without using real leather.
- Suede : an effect similar to Alcantara, soft to the touch and durable over time, for a luxurious and comfortable finish.
All linings offered in the workshop are sewn, not glued, to the base material. This difference, which may seem subtle, is actually crucial: a glued lining will inevitably come unglued over time, regardless of the type of glue used. Sewing, on the other hand, provides exceptional durability , optimal resistance, and a very aesthetically pleasing and refined finish. Each accessory thus benefits from a high-end, robust, and long-lasting finish that far surpasses what is typically found on the market.
Now you know everything... or almost everything!
You now have all the information you need to choose the most suitable accessory for your dog. Take your time, listen to your needs… and those of your companion.
And if you still have any doubts, don't hesitate to write to us. We would be delighted to chat with you and help you make your choice, because every dog deserves the very best 💛