For New York Fashion Week, ELYSIAN Impact in partnership with DRC Ventures held the Second Annual CatWalk FurBaby event sponsored by Biolight at Sony Hall at the Paramount Hotel in New York City.
Before the philanthropic arm of ELYSIAN, an international luxury lifestyle brand created to inspire and reflect the interests of women, took to the runway they hosted a sweetly divine launch party at the rejoiced MarieBelle Gourmet Chocolates in Soho. Guests delighted in treats from the world-famous chocolatier before the big night.
“Building on our inaugural event last year, we have seen the impact of our event on a number of charitable organizations – This is now the second time ever that fashion, animals, and charity have been brought together in New York Fashion Week,” ELYSIAN Founder Karen Floyd said.
CatWalk FurBaby then paired international fashion designers, models, rescue animals, and charities together for a morning combining passion with a purpose for the following show.
Fern Mallis emceed with a panel of celebrity judges headed by Consuelo Vanderbilt, Carol Alt and Maribel Lieberman who handed out awards to not-for-profit organizations paired with each model-and-pet team. DJ Chloe Jane performed her new single “Dance Floor Emergency” and was also the event DJ.
Models wore outfits designed by fashion designers such as Nicole Miller & Canine Cashmere, D’Marsh Couture (Glenroy March), Pelush (Anna Tagliabue), Yulia Fashion House (Yulia Boozer), Christina Strayer, Queen of Sparkles (Jaime Glas Odom), Levi-i-Rosa (Ulia Volosovich), Tommy Hilfiger, Any Old Iron, Halim Flowers, Caryna Nina, Brooke Wilder Atelier (Gina Marie Roberts), Johnathan Kayne, VirSal, Pitaya (Nataliya Kerechanin), Halynka Shunevych, Ashley Plasse, Shernett Swaby, Salacious Fruit (Alex Foxsworth) and Ese Azenabor graced the runway with a four-legged companion.
The charitable organizations that were represented on the runway were grouped into five categories – Animals, Children, Environment, Service, and Women:
Animal Charities: Companion Animal Alliance, Animal Advocates of Barnwell County, Animal Ashram, Operation Kindness, NYC Second Chance Rescue, Spartanburg Humane, Rescue Dogs Rock.
Children’s Charities: Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, Center for Family Services Palm Beach County, Charleston Alternative to Detention, Original Six Foundation.
Environmental Charities: Rahm Foundation.
Service Charities: Marley’s Mutts / Pawsitive Change Program, Guns Garin Memorial Foundation, Honoring America’s Veterans, Red Cross, WLS Foundation. Women’s Charities: New York Women’s Foundation, Nebras Hayek Foundation, Silent Tears, Silverstein Dream Foundation. Notable Attendees included: Karen Floyd, Dr. Christina Rahm, Fern Mallis, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Carol Alt, Maribel Lieberman, DJ Chloe Jane, Jean Shafiroff, Patricia Silverstein, Leesa Rowland, Kate McEntee, Devika Gopal Agge.
The second part of the program saw a fashion presentation by DRC Ventures Merci Dupre Clothiers headed by Dr. Christina Rahm. Merci Dupre Clothiers couture line is anticipated to become the ultimate in luxury, eco-fashion, and environmental protection. This unique line of ‘Enviremware’ clothing will host a protected coating of nano-biotech technology. This new form of apparel will offer an unbeatable barrier against hazardous toxins such as EMF radiation, heavy metals, viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungus while supporting non-exposure of radio frequency electromagnetic particles from 5G.
Lastly, three awards were presented by the panel of Judges; People’s Choice Award: Charity: Companion Animal alliance (Louisiana), Designer: Queen of Sparkles, Model: Jaime Glas Odom with little Dog.
Judge’s Choice Award: Charity: NYC Second Chance Rescue (New York), Designers: Nicole Miller & Canine Cashmere, Model: Rachel Donohue with Eunice.
Publishers Award: Operation Kindness (Texas), Designer: Glenroy Marsh of D’Marsh Couture, Model: Gia Skova with Daisy.
Photo Courtsey: PMC / Jared Siskin