Chinese pet owners drive boom in tailor-made pet clothing

According to Zang, custom-made pet clothing ranges from 200 to 300 yuan ($30-$45) for basic designs to over 1,000 yuan for premium fabrics and complex styles. Online orders account for 80 percent of her business, with clients mainly in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanjing. Some customers even send their own fabrics, including wedding suit materials, to have matching outfits made for their dogs.

Zang is one part of this booming industry. Data from iMedia Research shows that in 2025, China's pet apparel hit 12.95 billion yuan, up from just 3.58 billion in 2020. Over 50 million households now dress their pets.

Pet owners are increasingly particular about style and aesthetics, but the deeper motivation is the bond they share with their animals. "They are my emotional support. They can be unconditionally good to you," said Shen Tong, a pet owner in Beijing. "Keeping pets brings real emotional comfort."