Hi! I’m Sharon. My Tassie business is called Thyla Scene. I create Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) dog coats, as well as bandanas and bow ties.
Our family rescue dog, Tully, was the inspiration for my creative adventure, which began 4 years ago. With a dingo like appearance, she transforms well into a ‘Tassie Tiger’ when wearing her coat.
I work from our country home in Southern Tasmania, and started selling on Madeit just over a year ago. I chose Madeit to sell my pet wear online because I wanted an Australian based company, as my products are very much Australian related. Its great to see a platform with so many talented Aussie makers in every state. The support team have been great in helping me set up my shop. I also sell my pet wear at Salamanca Market in Hobart. Having the combination gives me the option to work solo, but also have social contact with customers.
I love living in Tasmania. Being away from densely populated cities, traffic and the ‘9 to 5’ mentality helps give me ideas and a less stressed lifestyle. Most mornings I begin the day with a walk, and enjoy ocean views and the fresh air.
Originally from Adelaide, my husband, son and I said goodbye to suburban life, and happily moved to Tasmania 7 years ago. We live on a 5 acre property, surrounded by native bush, visited nightly by Pademelons and Tasmanian Devils. We also have pet chooks, peacocks and a rabbit.
I love animals, especially dogs, and when customers purchase one of my products, it makes me smile when I hear them talk lovingly about their canine companions. Since starting my business, I have also become fascinated by the Tasmanian Tiger. Unfortunately extinct, and with little known about the unique marsupial, I am always keen to read any information available relating to it.
By trade I am a graphic designer, but several years ago, I wanted to steer away from ‘screens’ and find a more hand skilled creative pathway. When I was a teenager I learnt to sew and enjoyed other craft projects. These skills have helped me greatly with my business. Inspired by my dog, Tully, I felt my business idea was worth pursing, so after lots of trial and error in coming up with 7 coat size patterns, and using Tully as my ‘model’, it all began from there.
My sewing room space is small, and often my coats are seen migrating to the couch or dining table when lacking room! When away from the sewing machine, I enjoy walking, op shopping, nature photography, and taking Tassie holidays with my family.
Every pet garment is handmade by me. My coats come in 7 sizes, which are made using remnant/end of roll curtain fabric for the exterior, and lined with warm polar fleece.
By using unwanted fabric and giving it another purpose, I feel I am helping reduce landfill waste. The stripes are individually hand cut from polar fleece. Where possible, I use polar fleece tops that I seek out at op shops.
The process begins by cutting fabric to my pattern templates. Coats then start evolving into Tassie Tigers when I hand cut the stripes, using polar fleece. These are zig zag stitched on using my commercial sewing machine. I also have an industrial machine which I use to bind the coats together and attached the velcro neck and chest pieces, so they are strong holding and durable.
Seeking out the fabrics is the fun part, as I imagine the end product, and visualise the dog that will role play the Tasmanian Tiger. I make coats in natural Thylacine brown shades, but also get creative with other colours such as pinks and blues. Every coat is unique. No two coats are the same.
Once I used to buy mass produced, overseas made products, and never thought anything of it. Since living in Tassie I’ve visited many local markets, talked to many local makers, and now have a bigger appreciation of handmade.
Every maker has a story behind their business. I love the personal touch and support small local businesses whenever I can. When I’m selling at Salamanca Market, I feel part of a community and it’s a great supportive, inspirational environment to be in.
I believe in recycling and reusing where possible. By using recycled and remnant fabrics, it makes customers to think about everyday textile wastage, and hopefully make better choices. My product is vastly about the Tasmanian Tiger, which unfortunately is now extinct, through human hunting. I hope that when people buy my product, they also think about the importance of respecting animals. By creating my pet wear I feel I am also keeping the memory of the Thylacine alive.
Sharon is offering Madeit’s community newsletter subscribers 15% off at Thyla Scene Pet Wear for a limited time. Subscribe below to get the coupon, plus weekly handmade shopping guides, designer spotlight stories and discounts:
Visit Thyla Scene Pet Wear to find more wild wear for domestic dogs: ThylaScenePetWear
Hi! I’m Sharon. My Tassie business is called Thyla Scene. I create Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) dog coats, as well as bandanas and bow ties. 
