Purina Dog Chow has inspired designer Jason Wu for his Spring 2026 collection at New York Fashion Week, marking the brand's upcoming 100-year milestone in 2026.
Wu's collection draws inspiration from Robert Rauschenberg's fabric works of the 1970s, including "Groundings (Hoarfrost)" from 1975, which featured Dog Chow packaging. The "Collage" collection includes three ensembles incorporating the Purina Dog Chow motif and pays tribute to Rauschenberg in his centennial year.
Wu drew inspiration from Rauschenberg's use of everyday materials, including pet food packaging. In 1975's "Groundings (Hoarfrost)," Rauschenberg used solvent transfer and collage on fabric techniques. "I was captivated by the bold Americana aesthetic," said Wu. "Especially the iconic checkerboard pattern featured on the Purina Dog Chow bag collaged within the work."
The collaboration reflects Wu's personal connection as both a designer and pet owner. "As someone who deeply loves animals, I recognized that same appreciation in Rauschenberg's life and work as well," he said. "This connection felt both meaningful and serendipitous, providing the perfect opportunity to weave Purina Dog Chow's 100-year heritage and visual identity into our collection in an authentic and artistic way."
Dog Chow was founded in 1926 and has established cultural presence beyond pet food. The brand's influence made it a symbol of care, loyalty and domestic life, inspiring both Rauschenberg and Wu, said Susan Anderson-Bauer, Purina archivist.
"Dog Chow's evolution mirrors the broader cultural shift in pet ownership," said Anderson-Bauer. "Rauschenberg's inclusion of the Purina checkerboard and Purina Dog Chow packaging in his work was a recognition of the brand's role in society. Jason Wu's reinterpretation invites a new generation to see Dog Chow through a fresh lens – not just as a dog food brand that's been around for 100 years, but as a symbol of how deeply pets are woven into the American experience."
In addition to incorporating Purina Dog Chow packaging into his "Hoarfrost" series, Rauschenberg later created the "Chow Bags" series of screenprints that combined collage, photography and the Purina checkerboard design. The artist was known for transforming everyday materials into art and was a lifelong animal lover whose pets often accompanied him in his studio.
