Indonesia teacher turned tailor cashes in on cat fashion craze
- Fredi Lugina Priadi tried his hand at a number of businesses before stumbling upon supplying outfits to picky pet owners looking to dress up their cats
- His creations range from superhero costumes to outfits inspired by cosplay characters, nurse uniforms and even traditional Islamic wear
After quitting his job as a schoolteacher, he tried his hand at a number of businesses – including running a motorbike repair shop – before stumbling upon feline fashions, an idea from one of his cat-loving cousins.
“At first, my cousins who love cats gave me the idea to make these costumes and I thought it was weird,” said Fredi, speaking from his rustic workshop with a sewing machine in Bogor just south of the capital Jakarta. “But it turned out to be funny to see them with costumes.”
Since setting up his online business three years ago, he now generates up to 3 million rupiah (US$210) a month if he sells at least four pieces a day. Each outfit costs between US$6 and US$10 to buy.
Customer Risma Sandra Irawan, 31, has bought at least 30 outfits for her cat Sogan and puts in orders for special occasions like Christmas and the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.
While many find it cute, Fredi has received some negative comments on social media from those who consider it cruel to dress up a cat and he advises buyers not to make their pet wear an outfit for too long.
Indeed, in the wake of a boom in social media postings of pets dressed up, often in increasingly bizarre poses or outfits, some animal welfare groups have issued guidelines to make owners more aware of any signs that it may be causing their pet distress.
