VICIOUS AL

For the ferociously Loved

Custom-fit knitwear for dogs

VICIOUS AL is building technology that turns a phone photo of your dog into a custom knitting program. Our first product: made-to-measure sweaters, knit in one seamless piece, with no inventory and no waste.

A Great Dane and a Japanese Chin sit side by side on a riverbank, a Japanese Chin sit side by sideboth in matching raspberry knit sweaters with the VICIOUS AL monogram at the hip.
Concept image · One design, knit to fit a Great Dane and a Japanese Chin.

Meet AL

Fifteen years ago, AL came home

By October, he was desperately cold.

My daughter was about to turn 11, and she got to adopt a dog for her birthday. The only small dog at the shelter was Alvin, five months old. That was August.

By fall, unless he was in a sunbeam, he was shivering. Nothing off the rack kept him cozy, so we found custom makers and built him a wardrobe. He was undeniably snazzy. People stopped us on the street.

AL is not vicious. He just has strong opinions.

AL, a small Chinese Crested with a tuft of blond hair, gazing to the side in a giraffe-print turtleneck.
The real AL · Strong opinions, excellent turtleneck.

The problem

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes

Off the rack is always a compromise.

85%of owners we surveyed find it at least moderately frustrating to get dog apparel that fits
74%worry about their dog being cold in winter
"None of it fit terribly well… it is all sitting in a drawer."Shih Tzu owner

VICIOUS AL owner survey, fall 2026. Early results, still collecting.

Have a dog? Add your answers to the survey.

Take the dog owner survey

How it will work

From your phone photo to your front door

  1. Our test poodle standing in profile on a rug at home, ready for her photo.What we're building

    Scan

    Scan your dog at home with your phone.

  2. A phone app showing a 3D scan of a poodle with a leg-height measurement of 1 foot 6.92 inches.What we're building

    Measure

    Our app builds a 3D model and pulls the measurements.

  3. Knitting design software showing a 3D preview of a full-body dog sweater with the VICIOUS AL monogram at the hip.What we're building

    Program

    The app adjusts the base knitting program to fit your dog.

  4. A Shima Seiki WholeGarment knitting machine with cones of yarn loaded on top.With partners

    Knit

    A whole-garment machine knits it in one seamless piece.

  5. A kraft box opened to show a folded raspberry sweater, branded tissue, and a card that reads Made with love for Max.Concept imageWith partners

    Deliver

    It ships with your dog's name on the card and a wash bag.

Where we are

Early, real, and moving

Prototype
We're developing the first dog knitting program with the Shima Seiki USA team, fitting our test poodle in the early prototype.
Next
25 test fittings on an array of dogs.
Then
Once the fit is reliable, we'll open preorders. People on the list hear first.
Our test poodle, mouth open in a big grin, standing on the floor of the knitting facility.
Real dog · Our test poodle at the knitting facility.

Want in?

Join the list for fitting updates and first access.

Join the list Take the survey