ABOUT CUDS

Jul 30, 2025

I started CUDS quietly, from home, with a dachshund named Nomi by my side.

Before bringing Nomi home, I spent nearly a year thinking about responsibility. Having a dachshund had always been a dream, but caring for a life means committing to it every day.

When I was ready, I chose a breeder carefully. He was local to Sydney and deeply responsible, never breeding for profit or speed. His dogs were given time to rest, and their health always came first. The wait was long and the cost higher than average, but I knew the puppies would be healthy. That mattered more than anything else.

When Nomi came home, it was winter in Australia. He was small and easily cold, and even a sneeze or a brief shiver would make me anxious. I bought sweaters to keep him warm, but none of them felt quite right. Some didn’t fit the dachshund body. Others felt generic, like something I had already seen too many times.

Before this, I had spent eight years working in the fashion industry as a photographer. I was always close to clothing, fabrics, and the way things were made, observing details, proportions, and how pieces come together. But it wasn’t until Nomi that I started to think about clothing differently. More personally. More carefully.

I wanted something better designed. Something that felt comfortable, considered, and made with intention.

So I started learning. About fabrics, sewing, and pattern making. Adjusting fits, refining details, letting Nomi try each piece on again and again. Over time, the clothes began to feel right. When I noticed he wasn’t just wearing them once, but reaching for them every day, for morning walks and coffee runs, I knew he was comfortable. That quiet confirmation became CUDS.

CUDS is designed for the dachshund body. Long backs, short legs, with thoughtful details that make a difference. Pieces that feel easy, familiar, and natural to wear.

It’s not about chasing trends. It’s about creating things that fit into everyday life, quietly. Pieces you reach for without thinking, that still feel special in their own way.

Thank you for being here and sharing this little journey with us.

— Tong ♡