Southern Cross launches new high-vis, high-fashion collection to keep pets safe on the road part of a new campaign via TBWA\New Zealand
Southern Cross Pet Insurance and TBWA\New Zealand have teamed up with designer Matthew Adams Dolan for the launch of VIS, a high-visibility capsule fashion collection to keep pets safe on the road. The campaign comes as part of their ‘Live Your Pet Life’ initiative, which seeks to raise awareness of the dangers pets face in engaging ways, and combat these risks to keep our companions living longer.
After analysing data on the main risks pets face, TBWA\NZ and Southern Cross identified a road safety issue among the Kiwi animal community – who can be difficult to see, especially at night. To shed light on the matter, the teams came together to launch VIS, a collection of cautious couture for pets that’s high fashion by day, high visibility by night.
To develop the glamorous garments, TBWA\NZ partnered up with international Italian designer Matthew Adams Dolan, known for dressing stars such as Gigi Hadid and Lady Gaga. Drawing from his experience working with the likes of Vogue, Rihanna, and his own dog Maisie, Matthew fused function with fashion, using highly reflective materials to create the eye-catching couture. From puffer jackets and a ‘nightbreaker’ coat to winter woollies and bandana accessories, any pet posing in VIS – The Road Safety Collection will be unmissable.
To ensure a showstopping launch, TBWA\NZ enlisted the talents of art and directing collective The Glue Society and photographer Derek Henderson, impressed by the calibre and creativity of their past work. Emulating typical fashion campaigns with a twist, the production centres around catwalk scenarios as seen in the likes of New York and Paris – only this time, the runway is marked by traffic cones, road signs, and zebra crossings. In lieu of spotlights, car headlights illuminate the space, interacting with the reflective garments to showcase their full high-visibility potential. The campaign will feature across AV, VOD, Social, Digital, OOH, PR, and Influencer channels.
Says Dolan: “My job as a fashion designer is all about reinventing ways for the world to see people through forward-thinking craftsmanship, exaggerating proportions and experimenting with silhouettes. It has been so much fun applying those same design principles to pets, creating pet puffers with oversized hoods, reflective trench coats with large folds, chunky knitted jumpers with reflective yarns, and even an iridescent rainbow doggy shirt.
“These designs get to the crux of the project: ensuring that the issue, and pets on the roads, are noticed by more people. Pets are such an important part of our lives, and we should be doing whatever we can to keep them safe and enjoying life longer. Collaborating with Southern Cross Pet Insurance on something that will make a real difference has been such a special experience, and, who knows, maybe we’ll follow it up with a VIS summer collection in the future.”
Says Shane Bradnick, CCO at TBWA\NZ: “Our idea was to combine Matthew’s signature oversized design features with retro reflective and iridescent materials to make pets physically unmissable to distracted drivers. As an agency of pet lovers, it’s a purpose that’s truly close to our hearts. It’s also been incredible to collaborate on such a global scale to create something so special, with Matthew based between Italy and New York, Southern Cross Pet Insurance and ourselves based in New Zealand, our creative team currently based in London, and fabric suppliers from all around the world.”
Says Anthony McPhail, general manager at Southern Cross Pet Insurance: “We’d much rather help prevent beloved pets needing care with top-notch protective gear than have to treat a painful injury. I’m excited to see how Aotearoa (New Zealand) responds to ‘Vis – The Road Safety Collection’. We reckon it will help keep humans safe too, which can only be a good thing for pets, who want their bowls replenished by someone they love unconditionally.”
The campaign stars an 8 piece hero catwalk collection and a ready-to-wear day-to-night bandana range. From April 8th, New Zealanders can visit the Southern Cross site to get their hands on one of these VIS bandanas and enter the draw to win one of five original garments. A bespoke piece designed by Matt will also be up for auction on TradeMe in May, with all proceeds going to Pet Refuge.
Agency: TBWA\New Zealand
Chief Creative Officer: Shane Bradnick
Creative Directors: Ashley Wilding, Daniel Davidson, Mick Stalker
Chief Executive Officer: Catherine Harris
Group Account Director: Simon Mills
Account Director: Zak Murtagh
Planning Director: Josh Taylor-Dadds
Agency Producer: Jodie Hari
Production Company: Revolver
Art & Directing Collective: The Glue Society
Director: Pete Baker
Managing Director/Co-Owner: Michael Ritchie
Executive Producer/Partner: Pip Smart
Executive Producer: Jasmin Helliar
Line Producer: Mark Foster
DOP & Photographer: Derek Henderson
Post Production: The Glue Society Studios
Fashion Designer: Matthew Adams Dolan
Music: Beatworms – Cam Ballantyne
Client: Southern Cross Pet Insurance
Head of Product & Marketing – Bridgette Muir
Marketing Manager – Kristen Gernandt
Media Agency: MBM NZ
15 Comments
This is really awesome. looking forward to seeing the OOH and other channels. I imagine it’s all gonna be quite visually epic.
Nice work team.
Oh dear. A good idea that is totally let down on execution. the strangeness of the garments totally eclipses the concept.
Awesome work. Would have been so easy to do some lame slightly colourful dog gear but you’ve nailed fashwannn like the human weirdos do
They look cool, but… why not just get a lead? Are people walking their pets into traffic? Are they roaming the streets? What is happening out there?
Good idea that
So if I understand the PR you found data that says heaps of pets are being killed on the road at night. And judging by the idea it is mainly dogs at risk so you started there. Why are these dogs being allowed to roam the streets at night? If that was the problem wouldn’t a campaign targeting dog owners be more effective than this ‘just in time for Cannes’ bollocks.
Agreed. Would love to see this “data” you’ve found… Surely it’s dogs escaping yards etc. I highly doubt dogs are getting run over while still on leads. As someone who pays dog insurance, apart from making your dog look cool, this does not make me think my dog will be any safer.
Appreciate trying to do something interesting in the pet insurance space though, as no one else is trying.
And love
Same creatives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLz9IDyYDIA&ab_channel=IKEAAustralia
I was driving and saw the street posters. They looked so good, I couldn’t stop staring. I forgot to look where I was going and crashed my car into a tree. I pulled myself from the wreckage and walked to the italian greyhound breeder. I bought a puppy and named him Paco. He now wears the dino motif vest in lime green. We walk a lot at night (I don’t have a car anymore) and nobody has run into us because he looks so god damn fabulous. 10/10 an excellent campaign.
Is this why my premiums are so high? They waste marketing budgeton pointless work like this?
So is no one even going to mention Volvo Lifepaint?
So much better than that Pet horror story advertising trash of your beloved mittens who might cost you $10K. I like it. I’m getting one of those Bandeazy’s for sure.
Good spot. That’s a shocker. It’s no wonder clients have so many issues with our industry when people are literally just churning out the same ideas for different clients.
The head of make is the same guy who did Volvo life paint (which was actually a clever idea). A long time ago advertising used to be about driving commercial outcomes for clients. This is about targeting awards. I’m surprised the Southern Cross CMO, or even the CEO, didn’t ask for a please explain as to how this was going to drive meaningful results. Time for adland to start thinking more about sales and less about ‘changing the world’.