Singapore Polytechnic student entrepreneurs stitch sustainability into pet fashion

SINGAPORE – Their original plan was to start a print-press T-shirt business using recycled fabrics. However, Ms Syahirah Idora Shahrin and Ms Amanda Chua, both 20, soon realised the idea was not unique enough.

So, the Singapore Polytechnic (SP) School of Business students pivoted to a sustainable pet fashion project instead.

Using seed funding of $1,000 from SP’s Business Essentials Through Action (BETA) Programme, the pair founded Pets-R-Us, an upcycled pet accessory business.

Ms Syahirah and Ms Chua roped in eight schoolmates, aged 17 to 20, and launched Pets-R-Us in November 2025. Their diverse business-related academic backgrounds, including accountancy, banking and finance, and human resource management, allow them to bring different perspectives and strengths to the team.

“We are all animal lovers, and between us, we have cats and dogs,” says Ms Syahirah, the chief operating officer of the business.

Ms Chua says: “Our pets played a big part in inspiring this project because having pets helped us understand what owners look for in comfortable, safe pet apparel.”

The pets also double as fashion models, helping to “test the fit and comfort before we offer them to other pet owners”, adds Ms Chua, the marketing manager.

“It is also a meaningful way to spend time with them, especially since our school commitments take up much of our day,” she says.

Their core rationale for the pet apparel business is rooted in both emotional connection and environmental consciousness.

The students felt inspired to share their love for pets through their work, recognising that pets are often considered part of the family, and owners enjoy showing their affection through functional and cute accessories. 

The ultimate aim of Pets-R-Us is to create sustainable products that allow pet owners to dress up their animals while caring for the environment. 

The members achieve this by upcycling old clothes collected from their own homes and donated fabrics from acquaintances, effectively reducing textile waste and ensuring their products are eco-friendly.

Handmade, unique designs

The Pets-R-Us business model is built around sustainability and handmade quality. The members turn the collected materials into pet apparel such as bibs, collars and manner belts, priced from $9.90 to $11.90. The fashion accessories are available on Carousell and via the Pets-R-Us Instagram account (@petsrus0.0).

Their product line has been a success, with bibs being the most popular item due to their flexibility of use on many different types of pets.

Ms Chua says the team ensures the products are pet-friendly by using soft, non-itchy cotton fabrics and thoroughly washing all recycled materials before use. 

Ms Syahirah adds: “The sewing patterns are dependent on the fabric collected, making each piece unique.”

All products are sewn by the team, with the students picking up sewing skills through school workshops, online tutorials and practice gained during the project.

Sewing time varies. The simpler bibs take about 15 minutes, while the more detailed manner belts and bows require at least 30 minutes each. Customised accessories are also available by request.

Starting a business is not without its challenges.

“We are new to this and are still learning,” says Ms Syahirah. The team recently set up its first pop-up booth at SP, where the group learnt how to attract customers, manage the displays and promote the products effectively.

She adds: “As we continue to set up more booths and gain experience, we can better understand what designs catch the attention of pet owners, how to market our products better and how to improve our sales approach.”

Ms Chua adds: “With each event, we feel more confident and motivated, knowing our hard work is slowly paying off.”

The team manages the competing demands of schoolwork and running a business through a supportive team dynamic. The members lighten the workload by planning and dividing tasks according to their schedules, with the rest of the team stepping in to help if anyone is unable to complete his or her part due to school commitments.

Doing good

Financially, the operation has remained lean. Apart from the initial seed funding, the team members have not had to use any of their own funds, as most materials were either upcycled or donated.

By emphasising the story behind their brand and the care put into each item, the students are connecting with customers who value creativity, sustainability and quality.

For now, all sales proceeds are donated to Honour Singapore, a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering a national culture of honour, integrity and ethical behaviour.

While the young entrepreneurs do not receive any money from sales, Ms Syahirah stresses that what they learn from their passion project is “more meaningful”.

She says: “Starting a business is a big step for us, and this project gives us the chance to try things out, make mistakes, learn and improve along the way.”

“Gaining hands-on experiences and dealing with real customers are skills we’ve gained and will carry with us into the future,” says Ms Chua, adding that knowing their efforts go toward a good cause “makes the whole journey even more rewarding”.