About Us
Hello, I’m Hélène Kaufman, a seasoned fashion and product designer born in Belgium. My professional journey has spanned 30 years for various prestigious companies — trailblazing brands like Fiorucci, Charivari, Kansai Yamamoto, and Henri Bendel. These weren’t just fashion houses—they were movements, a lifestyle, the cultural zeitgeist.
I was fortunate to design at the heart of it all.
Fast forward to 2018, I founded HK-9 Designs combining my love for dogs and cats with my passion for design, woodworking, and home decor.
Today, I continue to build HK-9 Designs from my Kingston, NY studio, sharing my work through select artisan markets and online. It’s not just about pet products for me—it’s about making beautiful, lasting pieces that reflect love, design, and memory.
Inspired by a desire to venture into woodworking, I was fortunate enough to have been embraced by a circle of creative friends who opened their workshop to me.
Through collaborative efforts, my handmade wooden pet bowl stands were brought to life, envisioned to complement the refined ambiance of your home and the sophistication of your dogs and cats alike.
Each design is affectionately named after one of the many beloved companions I’ve been blessed to share my life with — canine, feline, and otherwise :-)
I genuinely hope that you and your own pets enjoy these creations as much as I have enjoyed making them.
With much love,
Hélène
