LOOKING BACK AND LETTING GO

New dog&boy designs about love, loss and legacy

It’s been 3 years since I lost my beautiful Mum to brain cancer. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Mum. My whole family misses her like crazy. That will never stop, but we reached a new milestone recently. Last month, I went to see Dad at our old family home in Brisbane. After 3 years, it was time to get serious about cleaning up some old memories and making space for new ones. Together, we cleared 3 skips of Mum’s old stuff plus a stack of hard rubbish. It was confronting at times but mostly cathartic – and it reminded me of how much Mum has shaped the dog&boy story. Even in our newest designs, memories of Mum shine through. In this post, I’ll share the story behind 3 new dog&boy designs, which remind me of my gorgeous Mum. These scarves document the journey of losing love, looking back and, finally, of letting go.

Linquare

Linquare is one of the limited-edition dog&boy designs made from 100% pure Australian Merino wool. Aside from the luxurious fabric and stunning purple colour palette, I love the meaning behind this scarf. Linquare is Latin for ‘leave behind’ and this scarf is about resilience. It’s about leaving behind expectations and accepting new realities – even when you’d rather not.

When Mum died, I was just at the beginning of my dog&boy journey. It happened so fast, it was hard to believe. I know how much Mum would have loved seeing dog&boy come to life – and I fully expected she’d be along for the ride. When we lost her, I had to face a new reality. It hurt, it was hard – but what was the alternative? I could scream, cry and wallow forever, or I could try to turn the loss into a legacy. I think I’ve achieved that with dog&boy. While it’s not in the way I hoped or expected, Mum is still a huge part of the business. From her botanical sketches that inspired some of the first dog&boy designs to the latest designs like Linquare, Mum continues to shape the dog&boy story.

Every dog&boy scarf comes gift-boxed with a beautiful quote card. The quote for Linquare is by Elizabeth Edwards. It says, ‘She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails’. Life is a series of constant adjustments – and losing Mum was my biggest yet.

Nostalgia

Another dog&boy design from the Merino wool collection, Nostalgia is about looking back. Helping Dad with the clean up in Brisbane, I felt a shift in the way we remembered Mum. While the first two years were really tough, time has helped bring a fresh perspective. Going through some of her old stuff was like opening a treasure trove of memories. Some things were fond and familiar, while others were new and surprising. Even though she’s no longer with us, I feel like we’re still learning about Mum – uncovering new secrets every day. I think that’s pretty special.

Even our conversations were more about reminiscing than reflecting in sadness. We laughed about funny moments we shared, silly things Mum said, and the crazy family stories only we can understand. Of course, there were a few tears, but mostly we talked about good times. We had fun remembering Mum – and that’s something that’s taken time.

The quote for Nostalgia is by Gilda Radner, who said ‘Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next’. None of us knows what the future holds, but one thing is for certain – today’s actions will be tomorrow’s memories. Let’s make them beautiful ones.

Before Now

Before Now is one of my favourite dog&boy designs, again made from Merino wool. The fresh green and burnt orange tones are perfect for winter, but it’s the tree print I really love. The tree is a motif for new beginnings, and Before Now is all about letting go. It feels like we did that in Brisbane last month. Cleaning up the house and saying goodbye to some of Mum’s things took courage. I guess that’s why we waited so long. But it felt like we reached a new kind of closure by making that choice to move forward.

The quote card for Before Now says, ‘History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived but if faced with courage, need not be lived again’. The quote is by the famous and fabulous Maya Angelou and it resonates for many reasons. The pain of Mum losing Mum was heart-wrenching, but now it’s time to let go. It feels like the end of an era – like the last chapter of a long book. But, even 3 years on, Mum is still writing her story. And I’m still sharing it through dog&boy. I find comfort and courage in that. I hope you do too.

What do you see in these designs?

The story behind every dog&boy scarf is as original as the women who wear them. Now I’ve shared what these dog&boy designs mean to me, I’d love to know what you see. Which is your favourite new design, and what does it represent to you?

Sonya xx

If you liked this article, please share and spread the dog&boy joy far and wide. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest for more life and style inspiration.