About The Head Bitch
Shannon Barry



Shannon Barry (a.k.a. Company “Head Bitch”) is the gal behind the colorful collars at Lucky Fiona. A little custom collar company based out of her home studio in the western Chicago suburbs, her goal is to create unique and conversation-starting dog and cat collars from vintage reproduction and retro inspired fabrics. A New York native and lover of all things vintage with a weakness for kitsch, Shannon remembers as an eight year old leafing through her Mother’s 1957 high school yearbook and longing to wear cat eye sunglasses and pretty patterned neck scarves tied in a knot instead of polyester slacks and matching vests. (A child of the 1970’s polyester was part of a painful fashion-childhood) As part of her teen rebellion Shannon paid a classmate with bags of Doritos to sew all her projects in Home Ec and thought sewing was “totally uncool” and questioned when in her life she would ever need a sewing machine? In high school she saw a William Wegman exhibit in Greenwich Village that changed the ways she saw dogs and fashion that left an indelible mark on her. She studied art history and photography in college and married her high school sweetheart Alex (“The Man Behind the Bitch”) who is the official silent - and sometimes not so silent - partner of Lucky Fiona. Moving about the country with her husband’s career - Shannon had an epiphany to work with animals in 1996 and ran kicking and screaming away from her desk job in medical sales. (and never looked back!) She trained as a veterinary technician and worked in the field for close to 10 years ending her traditional work history as a hospital director of a large vet clinic. In her quest to mix animals and careers she also started and ran a very successful suburban pet sitting service from 1999-2005 where she could easily get her fix dressing up dogs and photographing them much to the glee of her human clients. Always looking for the next "big animal influence and bright idea" she began accessorizing her own dogs with collars that matched their personalities using vintage fabrics in 2006. Frustrated at the lack of variety/uniqueness in commercial dog wear she decided to start a new company working with retro fabrics she loved and giving her own beloved pooches something special to wear. After a year of market research and some trial and error Lucky Fiona was launched in June 2007.

Over the years she and Alex rescued many creatures, 3 Irish Setters and 3 English Setters and some charming felines. Fiona being their first English Setter. Taken from a high kill shelter, Alex often called her “Lucky Fiona” and our company name was created. Remembering where Fiona came from is part of the Lucky Fiona passion and each month collars and proceeds are donated to various animal fund raisers and humane causes across the United States. We lost our beloved girl to an aggressive cancer in October of 2010 and will miss her more than words can say. In her memory we will continue to create lovely collars as our beautiful and graceful Fiona would like her legacy to continue in the work done in the Lucky Fiona studio as well as the company's charitable causes.

Shannon regrets not paying more attention in high school sewing and finishing her own projects. Her penance is sewing each and every Lucky Fiona collar as made to order. Lucky Fiona collars are made with love for people who truly share their lives with their beloved animal companions. Each is as unique and special as the dogs who wear them.
In 10 years Shannon sees herself still madly in love with Alex, still working with dogs and cats, living near the ocean and not regretting any of her tattoos.


The Man Behind the Bitch
Alexander Rainboth



Alexander Rainboth is the official "Man Behind the Bitch" at Lucky Fiona and the Chief Fabricator/Big Idea Man/Guy Who Deals with Numbers. Being married to a free spirit artist requires a counterpart who can think logically and do math and Alex serves both points very well as the husband of Shannon Barry and not so silent parter of Lucky Fiona.

A former U.S. Navy submariner Alex uses his high tech nuclear submarine training to configure measurements for martingale collars needed to fit overweight pugs with bizarre head and neck sizes. His current day time career finds him as an electrician at a leading chocolate manufacturer where he uses his high tech nuclear submarine training to configure ways to keep chocolate making machinery running. He received his college degree post-enlistment from Elmhurst College where he received a BS degree in Business Management. A fact he often brings up to the head bitch when she questions any of his business strategies.

A true blue pinstriped New York Yankee fan Alex also enjoys spending time with his dogs and cats, organic gardening, rockin' out to live music and corrupting his twin nephews. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he sews very well. In 10 years he will still tell people he is 22 years old, have his tattoo sleeves done and will have restored a classic car.





East Coast Senior Sales Executive
Rebecca Marino



While reviewing candidates for this position we had to consider that we needed a very special type of employee. One with lots of energy and enthusiasm for Lucky Fiona products and the witty charm of a natural salesperson. More importantly we also needed to find somebody who would accept payment in cat collars & Lucky Fiona t-shirts in lieu of an actual paycheck. Enter the lovely and talented Rebecca Marino.

Working out of our satellite office in upstate New York Rebecca hits the Tri-State area dog boutiques and specialty shops with her own special brand of salesmanship. She goes nowhere without a fist full of Lucky Fiona samples in her hand and the determination that all dogs and cats should be stylish and sporting our collars! Rebecca shares her days with her kitties Jack & Fiona, 2 incredible sons Tristan and Avery and her husband Bobby who refers to her as the Crazy Cat Lady.