For The Love of Dog.

Founded by Interior designer Caroline Bate, the inspiration behind creating Hugo & Otto came from our love of dogs and a meander in the Cotswold hills in 2008 with clients, their 2 stunning Pointers and Drum our gorgeous Choccie Labrador.

The conversation soon turned from fabric window treatments and accent colours to how difficult it was to source good quality dog beds that would stand the test of time and more than a few machine washes. I was then persuaded to work with our upholsterers to make a comfortable dog bed with removable washable covers, a couple of spare covers and, the seed was sewn.

It took several years of planning, pulling together savings, business plans, branding, stock and finding the right retail space to then fitting out, point of display, gearing up to sell products over the counter to customers is a huge learning curve in itself. Far removed from the glossy interior design world and my previous career at British Airways and all the while bringing up my very young son. 

A little fellow called Finnbar MacBrigadoon a gorgeous miniature wire haired dachshund full of character he joined our little family 6 months before I opened the doors to Hugo & Otto and was a hit at our launch lifestyle photography shoots and was head of Customer experience in store, he insisted on the meet, greet and love me love my store attitude. My wee Scottish boy became my constant and my muse for all things Hugo & Otto.

We introduced globally renowned multi-award winning dog beds and dog products from Germany, New York, California and London including the Red Dot for Best Product design for the Letto Day Bed.

All the way through the journey of creating Hugo & Otto from opening the doors to standing in muddy fields in our branded gazebo's or at Excel, Olympia next to me was Finnbar MacBrigadoon. He was so small I could sweep him up in my arms and into dog carriers, he was my wing dog and slept in many an Air BnB's

In 2018 we launched our first collections of British Made luxury dog beds at Daylesford Organic Farm in the Cotswolds, appropriately right back to where the seed was sewn some 10 years earlier.

I create and design our dog bed products, source the fabrics and, together with Richard's expertise in the studio we make our samples and test them before launching them online. Together we offer you over 39 years of design and specialist British dog bed manufacturing to offer you high quality and the best of British Made. We source everything in England from the cotton threads, packaging, fabrics and specialist hypoallergenic mattresses.

In 2019 we launched Dog Company to offer a more varied dog bed product and won accreditation by Made in Britain® in May 2020. Robert Lea, the respected Industrial Editor of The Times travelled to the Studio's to interview us post lockdown with a 2 page write up in the business section of The Times Newspaper.

We are constantly designing new dog beds and bedding products, testing the market, researching new technical fabrics to offer you the very best of British Made and design for your dog's comfort.

 

Caroline 

  

In memorandum of a wee fellow.

Finnbar MacBrigadoon

 

Caroline Bate is qualified in interior design and decoration

Alumni:  KLC School Of Design  2004/5 Chelsea, London. Certificate in Design & Decoration, Distinction. 

Fellow of the RSA

Accredited Member of Made in Britain®

  

www.hugoandotto.com

Updated 29 January 2023, All rights reserved 

"The faux fur was one of the deciding factors with my purchase. The previous donut bed we had was made from a fleece material so I knew they favoured the softness of that material for snoozing. The fur is really a huge step up in luxury for them. I honestly can’t get over how much they’ve taken to it. I’d estimate that Archie’s spent around 80% of his time in the new bed since it arrived. I’m already thinking of which of the old beds to replace next 🤣"

Gareth L, Caerphilly

"Ada loves her dog crate & set she will not use her old day bed at all. Great write up in the Times by the way, love the commitment to make quality products in the UK and use local skills. Keep up the good work!"

Darren J, Bath