Sad news
I am so sad to tell you that the light of my life, my gorgeous dog Rabbit has passed away peacefully in his sleep.
As many of you will know Rabbit was a huge part of LISH (and LoveMyDog as we used to be known) from the very start. Every new design would be tried out on Rabbit before becoming part of the collection, and he was so patient as I wrapped him in paper patterns and bolts of cloth.
He starred in many TV programmes including an episode of BBC’s Animal Crackers and Channel 4’s Posh Dogs, fashion shows with Vivienne Westwood and events for Battersea Dogs Home. Magazines loved him and he was a natural posing for shoots for Elle Decoration, Sunday Times and many more. And of course he’s been a regular model for our own photo shoots for the last sixteen years.
Rabbit was my inspiration. I would take him for bike rides around East London, for inspiration, and he’d sit on the cutting table while I was designing. He even joined me in the showroom at Liberty’s when I met the buyers to discuss a new collection.
But Rabbit was more than just the company muse. He was part of the family too, joining us on holidays in Switzerland, Italy, France and Belgium and was even a pageboy at my brother-in-law's wedding. He had my heart and soul from the first day we picked him up as a puppy, and on the tube home he buried himself in the pocket of my duffel coat.
I loved him even when he picked a moment just before a pub lunch to roll in mud, fox poo and badger poo, with a dead eel thrown in for good measure. Since he left us, not a day has gone by without me shedding a tear. I miss giving him a tickle behind his ears and throwing a ball for him to chase. I miss seeing him bravely swimming across Hampstead Ponds, a tiny terrier in the middle of huge labradors. And I miss picking up the remains of his toys (the only thing he ever shredded).
He was such a special dog and leaves a huge hole in my life. But he brought me so much joy and I am grateful for the good times that will stay in my memory forever.
RIP Rabbit
With lots of love
Lilly
