According to a 1999 edition of Time magazine, John Bartlett, the menswear designer “attracts media the way linen attracts wrinkles” with his head turning high-end fashion business and chain of department stores.

Just as his previous occupation of men’s fashion has a tendency to chance from season to season, Bartlett himself has chosen to take leave and dabble with the world of pet couture.
This has led to pet clothing lines such as John Bartlett Consensus and John Bartlett Statements, for Bon-Ton, a mass-market chain of department stores based in the U.S. In addition to this, Bartlett

It wasn’t until this past year that Bartlett became interested in animal activism; especially that of animal rescue. When Tiny Tim, his beloved three-legged rescue dog died, Bartlett started to visit shelters around New York.

He was confronted to meet people who were pulling dogs out of high-kill shelters to be placed into foster care where they would eventually find a new forever home.

He was inspired by their dedication and decided to start up the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, which devoted 10 percent of profits from the online sale of T-shirts and accessories to support shelters and rescue groups.

“There are still days when I miss Tiny Tim,” said Mr. Bartlett.
“A three-legged dog just inspires you… He pulled people out of their own struggles… And I loved that”.

For the designer who once made motorcycle chic a high-fashion statement, he is now a canvas-shoe wearing vegan, and while leaving a recent term of the C.F.D.A (Council of Fashion Designers of America), he spoke out against fur. He has even managed to persuade Bon-Ton, the department store chain that carries his puppy couture range, to donate $25,000 to his Tiny Tim Rescue Fund.

Bartlett often goes into pet stores to find out whether or not their dogs come from puppy mills. “They don’t exactly throw me out, but they show me to the door,” he said. “Animal rights talk interests me more than fashion talk right now”.