Founders and Principals
Background Summary
Suzanne Manolidis designed her first coat in the early 1990s when she was unable to find the type of coat she wanted for her 18-year-old-mixed-breed terrier, Vroma. She was six months old when Suzanne found her on a city street, her fur covered with ice.
Suzanne sought a winter coat that was warm yet handsome, and with a degree of style. Nothing like it was available. She spent months cutting, sewing, ripping, and reworking fabrics and patterns until she got what she wanted. Unfortunately, Vroma died in the meantime, and it would be another two years before she would turn her self-taught expertise to making coats for other dogs. She founded Canine Couture Collection and invited Frances Robb, who has an extensive business background, to join her as partner. Miss Caroline, a miniature wirehaired dachshund, would later join the company as its model and corporate spokes dog.
MISS CAROLINE
Model
Caroline, now approaching eleven years of age, is a purebred wirehaired dachshund, whose children brighten families across America. She continues the emotional drive of the Canine Couture Collection initiated by Vroma, for whom the company was founded, and the company's fine coats were first designed. Caroline's gentle, unassuming spirit - so rare among super models - endears her to everyone she meets. In addition to modeling the company's entire line of products, she also attends fashion and trade shows at which Canine Couture Collection is represented. She is a sought-after presence at these shows, typically visiting with attendees and customers and modeling the company's latest designs.
SUZANNE MANOLIDIS
Partner (Designer)
Suzanne is a native of New Hope, Pennsylvania, and was raised in the Hudson River Valley. She brings to the firm an eclectic background - in the U.S. and overseas - in art, interior design, magazine editing, education, and marketing.
She spent many years as an interior designer of several major residential projects in Philadelphia. She was also an art gallery director and continued to consult on various interior design projects. Suzanne served as assistant to the dean of the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts), was foreign student advisor, and developed and implemented a number of the College's programs.
Suzanne was a beauty editor for Redbook Magazine for several years, as well as having spent ten years overseas, largely in Switzerland, Monte Carlo and Athens as a marketing strategist for international companies.
FRANCES ROBB
Partner (Operations)
Frances is a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and spent many years as a creative equestrian rider and dressage instructor, teaching the sport to children and adults in the South and the Main Line area of Philadelphia. After managing several thoroughbred horse farms and also ministering to innumerable canines and felines, her career path took a sharp turn.
She became a highly successful financial consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina, and relocated to the Northeast and eventually to the Philadelphia area. She joined a prominent brokerage firm and, to this day, is revered by her former clients.
She is a perfect complement as partner in Canine Couture Collection, bringing with her an expansive business expertise and background, and energy refueled by her daily marathon training runs.