From 2008 to 2012

Marie-Pier and Maud met in 2004 while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial design at the Université de Montréal in Canada. They then traveled through Europe together for a few months and spent a semester at L’École de design Nantes Atlantique in France. In 2008, the design graduates began working as a pair with a shared ambition to create a distinctive brand and product line.

Their first achievement was the Canadian Cabin, a flat-packed cardboard cat house that set the tone for what would soon become Loyal Luxe. The new brand was dedicated to designing, manufacturing and distributing fun, daring and affordable pet products and accessories for wholesale and retail markets.

From 2008 to 2012, Loyal Luxe’s in-house line of products was designed and produced in Canada with social and environmental responsibility in mind. Made from locally sourced recycled materials or crafted by social reintegration and professional training organizations, its products were designed to optimize storage space and to minimize the environmental impact of transportation.

Thanks to their unique style and appearances in many Canadian and American design shows and exhibitions, the Canadian Cabin, Native American Teepee, Faux Bearskin and Original Bow Ties were distributed from their Canadian and American warehouses to over 200 retailers across the globe. They were featured in a wide variety of magazines and blogs including LA Times, Martha Stewart Living, Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy, Dwell and Metropolis Magazine.

As co-founders and executives of Loyal Luxe, Marie-Pier and Maud developed a range of expertise to complement their established product design background:

– Business planning / development
– Branding
– Artistic direction
– E-commerce
– Management of subcontractors
– Distribution and inventory management
– Press relations

Since November 2012, most Loyal Luxe products are manufactured and distributed worldwide through a licensing agreement with Suck UK. Famous for its quirky and attention-grabbing products, the British company is a leader in the gift industry.

Rustic with a retro yet modern flair, Loyal Luxe’s distinctive signature and charming products remain must-haves for those who seek to combine their love for their furry friends with their own artistic sensibilities and interest for creative items.

Photo credits: Daphné Caron, Maxime Leduc, Marie-Claude Hamel

Exhibitions

2011. Souk@sat – Montreal
2011. NYIGF – New York
2011. IDS  (Studio North) – Toronto
2010. From Quebec  – Relative Space, New York
2010. ICFF (designboom Mart) – New York
2010. NYIGF (A+: The Young Designers’ Platform” showcase within Accent on Design®) curated by the American Design Club (AmDC) – New York
2009. Souk@sat – Montreal
2009. Tête Coeur Main Exhibition (40 years of design at Université de Montréal) – Montreal

Recognition

2011. Apartment Therapy Design showcase – Web
2011. Design Lines “love tag” – IDS  (Studio North) – Toronto
2010. Grant recipient – Concours québécois en entrepreneuriat – Quebec
2009. Grant recipient – Centre d’entrepreneurship Poly-HEC-UdeM – Quebec