ELYSIAN’s Founder Karen Floyd Brings Charities, Models and Designers together for the 2nd Annual Catwalk FurBaby Fashion Show at New York Fashion Week
ELYSIAN Impact – the philanthropic arm of ELYSIAN, an international luxury lifestyle brand created to inspire and reflect the interests of women – 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, at the beginning of New York Fashion Week 2024.
CatWalk FurBaby paired international fashion designers, models, rescue animals and charities together for a morning combining passion with a purpose.
New York Fashion Week founder Fern Mallis was the Emcee with 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.
Twenty-One models – wearing 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 which 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.
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.
“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.
Photo credits: PMC / Jared Siskin
