Our story at Tripawd Clothing UK
Discover the passion and care behind every stitch. Learn about our journey, our commitment to quality, and how we help three-legged and four-legged dogs feel comfortable and loved.
A lifetime of making clothes
I've been making clothes for as long as I can remember
My love of designing and making clothes started when I was very young.
At just six years old, I was making clothes for my Barbie dolls and their tiny 8 cm babies. I knitted tiny all-in-one suits with incredibly thin needles and even made little Eskimo outfits from fur.
By the time I was ten, I was already designing and making real baby clothes.
At thirteen, I was knitting baby layettes for a local shop in the UK, which sold the garments I made. I didn't really think of it as a business at the time — I simply loved creating things and seeing my ideas become something real that someone could use.
By the age of 24, when my son was born, I had made all the baby clothes I needed for him myself.
And the sewing didn't stop there.
I made clothes for my children from T-shirts and everyday clothes to sportswear, coats and even down jackets. Over the years I have made clothing for all sorts of different needs, always enjoying the challenge of working out how something should fit and how it could be made better.
Sometimes clothing is about much more than clothing
Some of the things I've made have had a very special purpose.
I have made baby clothes for babies in Uganda after being told how difficult it could be for some mothers to form a connection with their newborn babies. The idea was that when the mothers could dress their babies and care for them in that very tangible way, it could help create that connection.
I've also made and sent lots of dog clothing to Romania.
These experiences stayed with me because they reminded me that clothing can be about comfort, care, connection and dignity, not simply appearance.
From tiny dolls to three-legged dogs
For around two decades I also ran an online doll-clothing business, creating bespoke clothing for dolls in many different shapes and sizes.
That experience taught me something I still use every day: there is no such thing as one pattern that fits everything.
When you make something for a particular body, you have to look at the shape, proportions, movement and what the garment actually needs to do.
That is exactly what led me to Tripawd Clothing UK.
When a dog has three legs, ordinary dog clothing doesn't always work. The missing leg changes the shape of the body, how a garment sits and, sometimes, how it needs to fasten. I wanted to create clothing that was designed around the dog rather than expecting the dog to fit a standard pattern.
Handmade for dogs of all shapes and sizes
Today I make clothing for three-legged and four-legged dogs, as well as exploring new designs for pets with different body shapes and needs.
Some pieces are practical. Some are warm and cosy. Some are colourful and fun. Some are completely bonkers. 😂
I love experimenting with fabrics, colours and unusual ideas, but the thing I enjoy most is solving a problem.
A customer might tell me that their dog can't wear ordinary clothing because of an amputation, a particular body shape, a very long back, a deep chest or simply because nothing seems to fit properly.
That is when the designing begins.
Supporting owners through challenging times
Helping owners and their dogs through the emotional journey of surgery and recovery is at the heart of what I do. It’s truly heartbreaking when a dog needs an amputation, and providing a lovely, comforting recovery top can bring tears of relief to owners. This connection and support mean the world to me. I ship worldwide and always welcome your ideas and needs, which continuously help make Tripawd Clothing UK stronger.
Not just clothing. Mending hearts, one Tripawd at a time
I make every garment with a real dog and a real owner in mind. Sometimes it starts with a standard design, and sometimes it starts with a message asking, “Could you make something for my dog?” I love finding a way to turn that need into something practical, comfortable and lovely to wear.
I make everything myself in the UK, and where a standard design doesn't work, I am always happy to look at what could work.
Because after more than six decades of sewing, I still love the moment when an idea in my head becomes an actual garment.
And perhaps that's why I started all those years ago with an 8 cm doll baby.
I still just love making clothes.
"The quality and care Tiina puts into her clothing are unmatched. Our three-legged dog has never been more comfortable!"
A happy customer from Glasgow, UK