SOCOCO: Pampering Your Pet With a Purpose

New York, NY – You love Fido. Fido loves you. You wear your heart on your sleeve. Isn't it time Fido did too? Thanks to SOCOCO, now he can.

Socially Conscious Companion, affectionately known as SOCOCO, has launched an array of handcrafted accessories for the pet who wants to help the world and look fabulous while doing it.

The company has directly employed local artisans from Cape Town, South Africa, to create a line of exquisitely made dog charms. Not only that, but SOCOCO donates a portion of the proceeds from every charm sold to an AIDS orphanage in Cape Town. SOCOCO isn't just canine couture. It's canine couture for a cause.

Founded by Hattie Cope Elliot and inspired by her French bulldog Gilles, SOCOCO is a wonderfully-timed endeavor considering the increasing consumer interest in responsible manufacturing in addition to the burgeoning pet industry. Just look at these stats: 93% of U.S. pet owners consider their pets family members and 83% refer to themselves as their pet's "Mommy" or "Daddy." It's no wonder that people only want the best for their first-class canines!

Even more staggering is the fantastic amount spent on pet care each year. Right now, the $8.5 billion pet supplies industry surpasses the $6.2 billion spent annually on baby-care supplies. Pets have nearly become the "children of choice" for a new generation.

“When I moved back to New York I was shocked at how much money pet owners spent on lavish luxury items for their animals,” says Cope Elliot, a native New Yorker who spent a number of years living in Africa, “ It only makes sense to offer something that caters to this demand, but at the same time contributes to a worthwhile cause. We treat our pets like people, so why not instill similar philanthropic values in them and make them little SOCOCO’s?”

SOCOCO products are even cleverly marketed to the animals themselves. That's right, SOCOCO speaks dog. Which is why each super-cute and innovatively designed package bears the company story as told by the brindle colored, bat-eared Gilles, the official company CEO.

But SOCOCO doesn't stop with just novel canine accessories. In the spring, SOCOCO will introduce their new line of designer doggy duds including polo shirts, sweats, collars and other accessories for dogs and owners.

“Perfect for all SOCOCO’s”, says Cope Elliot, who spent time working in the wine and advertising industry before devoting herself to this venture.

In addition, the company plans to launch mysococo.com in early 2006, a unique online community “for pets and their owners” to interact and raise money for various charities. Now there's something to wag your tail about.

Cope Elliot is clearly thrilled with how things have worked so far for SOCOCO: “It’s a fantastic thing to be able to do what I love and help others in the process. What could be better than that?”

SOCOCO: Humanity's best friend.


For more information on SOCOCO, please contact Hattie Cope Elliot at hattie@gosococo.com or 646.638.3631