Our Story

I'm Not a Frenchie Mom (Yet). But I Love Frenchies Anyway.

As a child, I had a friend named Mary who had a French Bulldog named Sadie. I loved Sadie a lot. She was outgoing and fun. But my parents already had five young kids. So when I asked if I could have a Frenchie too, they gently declined. They urged me to play with our 3 family cats. It's true, our cats were nice creatures. But I wanted a Frenchie. 

In my late twenties I became a studio jeweler, creaating with my hands all day long, balancing color and form. After many years, I won some awards, including the prestigious "Excellence in Jewelry" award at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show (twice, in 2009 and 2012 if memory serves).

Those were busy times in my world. If I wasn't in my studio filling orders or making pieces, I was exhibiting my work in person at juried fine craft shows in Philladelphia, Boston, New York, and Chicago, for a start. I traveled so much that once in a while, I woke up wondering which city I was in. Most weeks, I worked at least 60 hours. But I felt very fulfilled. I was meeting people like me who loved art and design. And I was blessed with incredible customers who ordered my latest designs over and over again.

During Covid, I discovered digital design. I started playing around, learning some apps. Suddenly, I wasn't limited by jewelry materials, tools and techniques. I could experiment endlessly, iterate instantly, and bring ideas to life in ways that jewelry doesn't allow. The more I learned, the more I loved digital design for its endless artistic potential. It demanded more from my imagination. It opened my mind. After a few years of indecision, I gradually closed my jewelry studio. 

At about that time, my childhood love of Frenchies came back. I started noticing them in my neighborhood where I never remembered seeing them before. Was it some kind of sign? I began chatting with Frenchie Moms while out walking Millie and Mollie, my two little white mutts. (Their photo appears below.) They're not Frenchies but what I can I say, a dog needed rescue and I didn't sweat the breed. Twice. I love Millie and Mollie with all my heart and we have great fun together. That said, I'm hoping that one day, I'll get to be a Frenchie Mom too. (Would three dogs be too much?)

Anyway, I couldn't help noticing what these Frenchie Moms were wearing. Lots of T-shirts with Frenchie designs. A few Frenchie Dads too. Most of the designs weren't ugly per se. They just looked uninspired. Run of the mill. Mass produced. A handful were tacky or garish. I wondered if I could do better. I decided I wanted to try. 

The Frenchie silhouette is a designer's dream, recognizable from afar. Those bat ears, that bulky body, the wrinkly, expressive face with soulful, sensitive eyes. The way Frenchies carry themselves like they are Best of the Block. Radiating confidence and high self-esteem, no therapist needed. Frenchies know these things right from the start. I admire them greatly. I try to emulate them.

After a great deal of Frenchie research, I paired my own sense of Frenchie design with my jeweler's eye for detail. Then I located the perfect backdrop for my work: Comfort Colors brand T-shirts. Humanely manufactured and eco friendly, they come in lovely, vintage-y colors that stay fresh after multiple washings. 

That's how Street Paws Apparel was born. 

Now, I'm happy to be in the studio all day, not having to travel to shows. My Frenchie shirts can travel the world without my leaving the house. And I get to meet other Frenchie lovers online, which makes me feel part of a second Frenchie community in addition to my neighborhood group. 

Have an idea for a design you'd like me to try and create? I'd love to hear about it. Write to me at valerie@streetpawsapparel.com. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. 

I'd also love to see photos of you wearing one of our shirts. With a few sentences about why you like it. If I publish one of your photos here on my site, with your permission of course, I'll send you a code for 15% off your next purchase. 

Thank you for stopping by. Please come again soon. I upload new designs every week. I hope you see some you love.

Yours truly,

Valerie

Frenchie Lover and Mutt Mom

Founder of Street Paws Apparel

Below are Millie (right) and Mollie (left), playing in the autumn leaves. Taking them both for a walk can feel like an Olympic track & field event. We all come home energized. Then two of us take a nice little nap. One returns to her studio refreshed with a few new designs in mind.