Fashionado

Doggies on the Catwalk 2010                                           Article by:  Joel Goldsmith

For the third and biggest year yet, Doggies on the Catwalk will take place this Friday, January 15^th, unveiling original fashion designs for both pooch and person.  Atlanta’s Grady High School and UrbanCouture, its fashion program, have teamed up with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) who will hold the event in their Atlanta studios located at 260 14^th Street.

Holly Firfer & Vincent Martinez sharing a pre-show moment, 2009.

Holly Firfer, Radio and Television Personality, is hosting the event and acting as a model.  When  asked about this year’s line up, she summed it up, “What do you get when you team up Grady High School’s best student designers, a fantastic design teacher, and fun local celebrities? A night of good looking laughs for one of the best animal charities in Atlanta.”

E. Vincent Martinez, Founder/Director of UrbanCouture, talked with me about how the event came to be.  In 2007, as part of their instruction, UrbanCouture’s students watched New York’s Fashion Week.  One segment featured fashion for pets and the idea for Doggies on the Catwalk was born.  The event would not only showcase the talented students’ creative designs, but also serve as a fundraiser for P.A.L.S. (Pets Are Loving Support), which provides pet care and support to the pets of critically ill and disabled Atlanta residents.

Since the first year, the program has evolved and grown adding local celebrities as models wearing original fashion designs to accompany the fashion creations for the pets.  This year the runway will feature celebrity models, each escorted by a fashion-forward man’s best friend, including:

Corinna Allen – WGCL’s Better Mornings Atlanta

Michele Caplinger – The Recording Academy, GRAMMY Foundation, Atlanta

Angela Karatassos – Philanthropist

Richie Arpino – Celebrity stylist

Frank Ski – V-103 FM Morning show

Miss Sophia – V-103 FM Morning Show

Suchita Vadlamani – FOX 5’s Good Day Atlanta

Tom Sullivan – Atlanta Radio and TV Personality

Wendy Babchin – Babchin Design

Jessica Dauler – www.jessicashops.com

Kitsy Rose – KRPR

Catherine Dyer – Actress

Holly Firfer – CNN

Trayce Hutchins – WGCL’s Better Mornings Atlanta

Rob Marciano – CNN

Jen Mayerle – WGCL TV

I caught up with Tom Sullivan at one of the fittings for his outfit where Shelby Rudd, his student designer, was hard at work creating his original look.  Tom told me, “Shelby has designed and created a really cool hip outfit for along with a matching ascot for my dog that’ll have both our tails wagging down the runway!”

Tom, posing for a photo op in the first ever Doggies on the Catwalk, 2008

For Friday’s gala, Teya Ryan, President and Executive Director of GPB has taken the program to a whole new level.  In addition to providing their studios for the event, the program will be taped and then aired on GPB January 20^th at 8 pm and again January 24^th at 7pm.  Footage will include runway coverage as well as interviews with the models and commentary by host Holly Firfer.  With the help of GPB, this unique and fun event will be made available to a potential audience much larger than can be accommodated in its live setting.

Doggies on the Catwalk is a must attend event for anyone who loves fashion or dogs (or both).  You can buy tickets online at www.seatyourself.biz.  Of course, don’t forget to tune into GPB on January 20^th or 24^th and watch the program!

Designer Jhari Ponder and Frank Ski during a GPB taping at UrbanCouture.

Vincent Martinez making his entry unto the runway in the first Doggies on the Catwalk. A proud moment.

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Tags: Doggies on the Catwalk, E. Vincent Martinez, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Grady High School, Holly Firfer, Pets Are Loving Support, UrbanCouture

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