The New Status Accessory Has Four Legs
The dog walk gets an upgrade
By Kiri Johnston | 17th September 2026From Italian leather collars to personalised brass tags, the everyday dog walk is getting a luxury upgrade. The designer bag is packed, the sunglasses are on, and your coffee order is waiting. But the finishing touch to a well-put-together morning walk? It might just be at the other end of the leash.
Pet accessories have moved beyond purely practical territory, with collars, harnesses and leads increasingly chosen with the same attention as anything else in the wardrobe. Plastic clips and brightly patterned nylon are making way for rich leather, warm brass and pared-back designs made to withstand far more than a few laps of the dog park.
The dog walk, upgraded
At the centre of this shift is The Lille Björn, a pet accessories label bringing a refined approach to the daily dog walk. Founded in 2024, the brand creates made-to-order collars, leashes, harnesses and name tags using full-grain Italian leather and solid brass hardware.
The result sits somewhere between fashion accessory and everyday essential. The silhouettes are minimal, the colours stretch from classic black and brown to deep red, green and blue, and select pieces can be personalised with a dog’s name or initials. Matching sets take things a step further, pairing collars, leads and harnesses for a coordinated look without tipping into novelty territory. It follows a wider change in the way we shop for our pets. As dogs become increasingly present across cafes, hotels, boutiques and office spaces, the products made for them are beginning to reflect the personal style of the people holding the leash.
Looks may get an accessory noticed, but practicality determines whether it survives the morning walk. The Lille Björn’s pieces are handcrafted by artisans in Ukraine using three-millimetre, vegetable-tanned leather. Chromium-free and joined using rivets instead of glue, the leather is designed to soften with wear and gradually conform to the dog’s body. Solid brass hardware resists rust and corrosion while developing a natural patina over time.
Fit has also been treated as more than an afterthought. Collars are available in three widths to accommodate different breeds and proportions, while the Vero harness spans sizes XXXS to XL. Its adjustable design distributes leash tension across the chest rather than concentrating it around the throat, balancing a clean appearance with comfort for daily use.
There are options for humans, too. Depending on the style, leashes can be carried by hand, worn across the body, or secured around the waist – useful when the morning walk also involves coffee, keys, and an unanswered inbox.
Buy less, walk more
While “luxury pet accessory” can sound indulgent, the appeal is also tied to longevity. Made-to-order production reduces the need to hold excess stock, while full-grain leather is intended to age over years instead of being quickly replaced once it begins to fray.
Even the smallest details have been designed to last. The brand’s personalised name tags are cast from recycled solid brass and engraved by hand, with space for a name on the front and an optional phone number on the reverse. Perhaps this is the real reason The Lille Björn accessories are gaining ground. They look polished, but they are not made to sit untouched on a shelf. The leather softens, the brass changes, and every walk leaves its mark. For dogs with fuller social calendars than most people, it is a wardrobe investment likely to earn its cost per wear.
TO get your paws on the full collection, check out The Lille Björn website here.
