Since 2008 · from the archive
Since 2008 · from the archive
The Elbband story
Every Elbband has a little story — and so does Elbband itself. Here’s a glimpse of how it all grew, straight from our archive.
2008
How it began
When Elbband began, there simply weren’t any beautiful, individual collars to buy. Cara came to me from animal rescue in 2008 — and around the same time, leashes became mandatory in public places across Germany.
So I started where I could: a little hobby corner in my apartment, with a makeshift workshop squeezed into it.
The very first
A stylist’s eye
I’m a trained stylist, and I was working in a shop here in the area. It didn’t take long for customers to notice what I was making — and the demand grew quickly.
I began very purely: with rope and the very first, simple wrapping attempts. This was the very first piece.
2012
It becomes a brand
For the first years I really did it as a hobby. In 2012 it finally became a proper brand: Elbband — a little manufactory of its own, full of rope, baskets and four-legged company.
2012 / 13
Out into the world
In 2012 or 2013 we went to our very first trade fair. By then there were already the first postcards I had made — from a proper photoshoot with my girls. Seeing the brand out in the world for the first time was a feeling I’ll never forget.
Bags
More than collars
I’m also a trained pattern cutter — so it was never going to stay with collars and leashes. The very first bag was actually one I developed for myself. From there it was clear: Elbband would make real accessories, too.
Beds & blankets
Somewhere soft
Then came real beds and blankets, and proper chill-out spots for dogs — the first ones were simply called “Platz 1” (“Best spot”), before they grew into what they are now.
Pictured: one of the very first.
By hand
Patience & craft
The harness took me a very long time — with a long pause in between. Sometimes a product simply needs its time.
I bring every pattern and idea to life myself. It all started with the non-adjustable pieces — the classic ELBreep and the ELBstrick — and from the adjustable ones, basically everything else grew.
That was a little glimpse into the history of Elbband. I hope you liked it — and that you’re curious for more. The current collection looks quite different now… but no less pretty.