CatWalk FurBaby Fundraiser Fashion Show

Elysian held its inaugural CatWalk FurBaby fundraiser at Sony Hall to celebrate New York Fashion Week, hosted by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin.

CatWalk FurBaby was conceived by Elysian Founder and CEO Karen Floyd as a way to bring together creative powerhouses, women change-makers, and animal welfare organizations.

Ten models wore outfits designed by fashion designers including Marc Bouwer, Malan Breton, Karen Caldwell, Anne Fontaine, Gloria Lee, Merci Dupre, Nicole Miller, Noize Apparel, Victor de Souza, and Brook Wilder. Each graced the runway with a four-legged companion. A panel of celebrity judges headed by Fern Mallis with Carol Alt and Karen Abercrombie handed out awards to animal welfare organizations paired with each model-and-pet team.

The ten animal welfare organizations represented from across the country on the runway were Operation Kindness, Friends of Williamson County Animal Shelter, Jameson Humane, Danny & Ron’s Rescue, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Freedom Dogs, Strong Island Animal Rescue League, Global Strays, Animal Advocates of Barnwell County, and Companion Animal Alliance. Puppy models for the show were provided by Rescue Dogs Rock NYC and the Spartanburg Humane Society of South Carolina.

Awards were presented to Global Strays with designer Gloria Lee, winning the Judges Choice award. The People’s Choice went to Big Dog Ranch Rescue with designer Anne Fontaine, and Publishers Choice went to Danny & Ron’s Rescue with designer Marc Bouwer.

Global Strays, which is located in New York and hosts an annual fundraiser in Southampton, has a world-wide mission to reduce the suffering of animals in impoverished regions through funding of animal shelters and bringing services directly into communities in an effort to increase well-being.

Guests included Dr. Christina Rahm, Alvita King, Lt. Gov. (South Carolina) Pamela Evette, Kimberli Scott, Sean Young, Evander Holyfield, Shevon Harris Holyfield, Jean Shafiroff, Cynthia Basinet, Allison Ecung Baroness von Arnim, Elizabeth da Trinidade-Asher, Casey Kohlberg, Jacqueline O’Sullivan, Stacey Silverstein, Elizabeth Shafiroff for Global Strays, Barbara Gilbert for Big Dog Ranch, Durbin Emerson for Danny & Ron’s Rescue, Nadja Sayej, and Bryan Griffin.