For Cuppy, at Christmas

Tonight, my sketchbook smells faintly of fabric and cinnamon tea, and Cuppy is asleep beside my feet. As I design his Christmas outfit, I keep thinking about how far he has come—from a shelter kennel to this warm, messy, love-filled home.

Cuppy doesn’t know he was once unwanted. He only knows soft hands, morning walks, and that I talk to him as if he understands every word. When I measure his tiny chest and imagine him wrapped in something gentle and bright, I’m really designing a thank-you—for trusting me, for choosing joy again.

I’m only twenty-five, still figuring out who I am as a designer, but loving Cuppy has taught me more than any studio ever could. If this little coat can make him feel safe, warm, and seen, then it’s the most meaningful thing I will design this Christmas.

More than style, more than perfection, I just want him to be happy.