A new start in Switzerland - and a problem that gave us an idea
In July 2016, we moved the centre of our lives to Switzerland - together with Vito and Amalia. A courageous step that changed many things. But one thing remained the same: the daily challenges with two special dogs. We looked for functional accessories that combined safety, comfort and quality. But we found nothing. Our dogs with short, sensitive coats in particular suffered from classic collars. Pressure points, skin irritation, material failure. So we started sewing them ourselves. Our first idea was a wide Collar with a protruding, soft inner lining - to protect the sensitive neck. Without realising that this detail would become Vitomalia's trademark. What started out as a solution for our dogs became the design standard - to this day.
From community to brand - with expertise & passion
2017 was the year in which a passion project became a profession. Every day we received messages with questions about training - about Vito, Amalia, list dogs, aggression and everyday life. We realised that our experience was not only helpful, it was needed. So we pooled our knowledge in our first online dog school - practical, understandable, honest. At the same time, we completed a distance learning programme. Lui with a sports degree as a dog behaviour therapist, Paulina with a master's degree in educational psychology as a dog scientist At the same time, many of our community members asked: "Where did you get this Collar?" The answer: "I made it myself." That was the moment when we decided to make our products available to others - with the highest standards, a lot of knowledge and a clear attitude:
No product leaves Vitomalia that we would not use ourselves with a clear conscience.
Many have followed our path, but Vitomalia remains the original
When we started Vitomalia, many things were new. Wide Collars with protruding inner lining, well thought-out Dog Walking Bags, reflective outdoor accessories - these things didn't exist yet. We did things differently because we had to. Today, we come across our ideas on many other websites. What used to be handmade on our sewing machine can now be found in dozens of imitations. Some of them look like our products - but they weren't created for the same reason. Because what makes Vitomalia special cannot be copied. Our experience. Our expertise. Our everyday life with challenging dogs. We know what it's like when products fail - and that's exactly why we develop them with a standard that can't simply be copied.
Our story is far from over
Today, Vitomalia is much more than a brand. We are a team, a pack, a movement of people who don't just want to keep dogs - we want to understand them. Our products are produced in Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy and Turkey - to our standards, with recycled materials and a clear responsibility towards the environment and dogs. What once began as a solution for Vito and Amalia now accompanies thousands of dog people in their everyday lives. But we also continue to learn. We improve, test and develop new products - because needs change and because we know how much trust there is in every product. And because we believe that good products don't have to be perfect. Just honest. Well thought out. And made for what counts: the connection between humans and dogs.
