Leading with heart: the story behind Crystal Lynn’s purpose-led pet brand

From silver screens to luxury leashes, the munificent multi-hyphenate is making her mark.

Crystal Lynn wears many high-fashion hats. The actress, entrepreneur, and animal advocate is a one-woman tour de force, always trailed by her loyal canine sidekick, Manolo Pigmop. 

The pint-sized good boy inspired Lynn’s luxury animal accessories brand Mon Petit Amour Manolo (My Little Love Manolo), with pet leads lovingly crafted from gold, silk, and pearls. 

Boasting a business model with a conscience, the brand sits pretty at the intersection of fashion and philanthropy, proving that opulence and empathy can coexist and style can serve a higher purpose. 

The brand is a love letter not only to Lynn’s scruffy, soulful muse but to all animals who rescue us as much as we rescue them. 

“Manolo changed my life and showed me what it is to be seen, trusted, and accepted,” she says. “He’s my first dog, and I can’t imagine my life without him.” 

A few years ago, Lynn was looking for a new leash for Manolo. She wanted something simple, elegant, and in line with her style. She tried a few from luxury brands and the big fashion houses, but nothing fit the brief. So, she designed and commissioned one – a 14k gold chain to attach to a harness or clothing. The animal advocate prefers pet owners to use harnesses instead of collars, providing more comfort for their beloved pets. 

When a friend saw it, she suggested Lynn start a business, and Manolo’s custom leash soon became the trademarked prototype for Mon Petit Amour Manolo’s signature products. For Lynn, they are reminders that the bond we share with our pets is worth more than gold. 

“There’s an East Asian legend about fate,” says Lynn. “It says there are invisible, unbreakable red strings connecting all souls pre-destined to meet across time and space. I believe we can translate that myth to a human-animal companionship, and our leads symbolise the red strings binding us together forever.” 

All Mon Petit Amour Manolo wares begin with a narrative, drawn mainly from Lynn’s passion for mythology, philosophy, and, of course, Manolo. Designed by the founder herself, they are crafted by a Paris-based couturier and Japanese artisans with impeccable attention to detail, utilising the finest ethically sourced and sustainable materials. These are timeless heirlooms, vessels for meaning, and promises of devotion. 

The ready-to-wear leads are made using 14k gold plating and bio-vegan leather, offered in a range of styles and colours.  

An exclusive selection of fine pet jewellery incorporates 18k gold, platinum, diamonds, and Akoya pearls. There’s the Treasure of the Sea pearl necklace, created to honour Lynn and Manolo’s beach walks, and the Gold String of Love, the ultimate representation of the red threads of fate. 

“The ready-to-wear pet accessories would look at home on a European runway, but it’s the intention driving the business that sets it apart… tapping into purposeful luxury that prioritises principles.”

Crystal Lynn

Where Manolo Pigmop is not your typical dog, Mon Petit Amour Manolo is not your usual brand. And while the maison’s pet accessories would look at home on a European runway, it’s the intention driving the business that sets it apart. 

Lynn established the brand in part to serve as a fundraising vehicle for her philanthropy and advocacy. A portion of every sale goes directly to rescue charities and initiatives that support and elevate animals in need. It is this that the actress hopes will be her legacy, the humanitarian behind the haute couture. 

“Building this brand has taught me that if you lead with kindness and sincerity, it resonates,” says Lynn. “My dream is to help as many animals as possible and make genuinely responsible pet guardianship the uncompromised norm.” 

At the heart of the business is Manolo’s Little Legacy Foundation, a charitable fund that supports animal welfare organisations through grants. A percentage of profits also goes to Pound Paws, a not-for-profit organisation of which Lynn is a board member, dedicated to promoting pet adoption and reducing animal abandonment. 

Then there’s the Puppy Cup, Pound Paws and Mon Petit Amour Manolo’s annual cruelty-free, community-led, and chic alternative to traditional racing, where rescue dogs vie for adoption instead of accolades. It’s the introverted Lynn’s way of gently shifting culture, not through protest, but by “elegant example”. All Cup proceeds go to support dog rescue charities. 

“We wanted to take the best parts of a day at the races,” says Lynn, “the fun, the fashion, the sense of occasion, and re-imagine it through a compassionate lens. Instead of participants making bets on horses, or greyhounds winning a race, we offer ‘playful’ donations, on which rescue dog they believe will find a home first.” 

In collaboration with Pound Paws, Mon Petit Amour Manolo customers are also encouraged to make a virtual pledge affirming their “dedication to being a responsible, loving, and lifelong companion to my furry friend”. In less than a minute, a beautiful certificate arrives in the pledger’s inbox to forever remind them of their commitment. As consumers increasingly demand products with meaning and a conscience, purpose-led businesses are no longer the exception. Mon Petit Amour Manolo is a pioneer in the growing trend that is redefining high-end consumerism, tapping into a desire for purposeful luxury that prioritises principles as well as profits. 

“Our products are a symbol of love, hope, and humanity,” says Lynn. “You’re not just buying a cute pet accessory. You’re celebrating the unbreakable bond between pets and their people and participating in a ripple effect of kindness.” 

Crystal Lynn is a woman on a mission. With Manolo Pigmop by her side, she is building a movement, inviting all of us to shop with our hearts and vote with our wallets. With expansion planned for the US, Europe, the UK, Japan, and Korea, the empathetic entrepreneur is taking her products and purpose global, demonstrating how thoughtful consumerism can lead the way. 

“Mon Petit Amour Manolo isn’t about profit margins or turning pets into fashion statements. It’s about showing that compassion and commerce aren’t mutually exclusive and honouring the animals who make our lives richer.”

Crystal Lynn

Learn more at monpetitamourmanolo.com and via Instagram