I started Poplin because my 3 senior dogs (Minkie, Poppy, and Franklin) had various health issues that required things we couldn’t really find online or in stores. It wasn’t easy finding high-quality products that considered aging/senior dogs and their health needs. Most products weren’t made with breathable materials, which was extremely important for my dogs with diabetes, collapsed trachea, heart issues, and lung issues.
So, I developed out of necessity.
The very first project I made for my dogs was around 2012. Minkie and Poppy had a stair that helped get them onto my bed, but they would lose their balance on the flimsy stairs and it wasn’t tall enough. We couldn’t find good stairs in stores, so I sewed a large cotton fabric pouf and filled it with old clothes. My dogs didn’t like the foam stairs, but they loved jumping on the cushion up to the bed.
Fast forward 9 years. Poppy went into diabetic ketoacidosis as a side effect of steroids she was taking for her allergies. It was the first medical emergency my dogs had. 2021 was the year I realized my dogs were getting old.
About a year after Poppy became diabetic, Minkie was diagnosed with heart disease, collapsed trachea, and fluid in his lungs.
While Minkie and Poppy had their health issues, Franklin’s arthritis and breathing was also getting worse.
Around 2023, I dusted off my sewing machine and started sewing again. One of the first things I made for my dogs was a cushion. It was just for fun at the time. But as my dogs’ health issues progressed, the phrase “keep them cool” repeatedly came up in my research and conversations with our vet.
I started carrying ice packs and fans for our outdoor adventures. These changes happened over time—one tweak here and one tweak there. Eventually, I realized that with my dogs spending most of their time sleeping or lying down, it made more sense to have natural materials that were more breathable than polyester. While synthetic materials can be superior than natural in some situations, I think too many dog products are made from synthetic materials that could be made with natural materials without compromising on durability. My senior dogs needed soft materials that were breathable for their health needs, and I just couldn’t find quality products that were made from 100% natural materials (or close to 100%).
So, I got to work on the sewing machine with Minkie as my assistant (he thought he was the boss, and he’s probably not wrong about that).
I tested materials and construction techniques, and my dogs tested the final products.
The first actually useful product I made was a gingham mat for Franklin. I used 100% cotton fabric exteriors and an 100% inner cotton fill to make him a mat for his kitchen adventures. He loved walking to the kitchen whenever my mom was in there, and he’d get treats from her while she cooked. He often took naps in the kitchen while waiting for more treats. He hung out on the kitchen foam mats, but would overheat and he’d move to the hardwood floor.
He ended up getting a hygroma, a large bump due to repeated trauma from hard surfaces, on the back of one of his legs. I had to do something before it became problematic, so I designed this gingham mat using natural materials just for him. The asymmetrical scalloped border was made to be a reflection of Franklin’s propensity for meandering (which often ended with me having to rescue him from a random large plant or tall grass). He loved taking naps and eating his meals on it.
This gingham mat and Franklin are the inspiration behind The Franklin mat.
This mat is especially meaningful to me because Franklin was cremated with it. When Minkie passed and we went to the crematory, I’d brought one of his favorite donut beds with us so that he could have a soft spot across the rainbow bridge. I didn’t realize they weren’t allowed to burn synthetic materials due to EPA restrictions, and unfortunately, the donut bed was made of polyester. I felt bad I couldn’t send Minkie off with his bed. When Franklin passed, I made sure to bring Franlin’s favorite mat that I’d made for him, and the crematory allowed me to send him off to the rainbow bridge with it after I explained that it was 100% cotton.
Poplin was created to have the same high standards I have for my own dogs. A portion of proceeds from every product will go towards helping overlooked senior dogs in shelters looking for their forever homes just like my Franklin once was.
With Love,
Minkie, Poppy, Franklin, and Alice!