Last night, at the Jennifer Balcos Gallery in Buckhead, DOTC Foundation and Fashionado founder, E. Vincent Martinez hosted the book release and signing of his photo book, Beyond The Catwalk, to a packed house.

His vision of creating editorial quality fashion images was realized by a very talented team, co-lead by Martinez’s colleague and friend, Taylor Bareford. Both worked with emerging fashion designers, photographers and professional stylists and models to bring to life a collection of photographic images, with dogs, all shot on location at Atlanta’s Goat Farm.

In the Fall of 2018, a conversation was had between the President of the Art Institute of Atlanta and fashion professor E. Vincent Martinez about creating a stylish, philanthropic event to benefit the Doggies on the Catwalk Foundation [DotC] – a 501 c3 that supports pet-based organizations.

The concept behind Beyond The Catwalk was to style and create high-fashion images using garments designed by emerging student designers and to feature dogs with professional models. Photography professor, Taylor Bareford, who was an instrumental collaborator in this project, worked closely with Martinez on all aspects of art direction and production. Bareford and Martinez share a like-minded aesthetic and sensibility which brought forth an organic and contagious synergy to the project. The shooting schedule spanned over four weeks between January and February of 2019 and involved a team of photographers, designers, stylists, pets and their owners.

Beyond The Catwalk exceeded all expectations. The images are beautiful, dramatic and engaging – not an easy feat when you consider that dogs are inherently cute and we weren’t going for “cute.” One of the educational goals of the project was to offer a real-world experience to the students by taking them out of the classroom, shooting on location and allowing them to communicate their vision with the professional team.    

The mission of the Doggies on the Catwalk Foundation (DotC) is two-fold. DotC is a 501c 3 that provides financial assistance to non-profit organizations whose mission is to enhance the lives of individuals living with disabilities and other special needs, and to those organizations who provide safety and loving homes to animals in need. In addition to supporting non-profit organizations, because Doggies on the Catwalk was created in the classroom, we are committed to providing educational assistance through the form of grants to arts education and fashion design programs. Proceeds from the sales of Beyond The Catwalk benefit the organization.

You can purchase your Beyond The Catwalk book HERE.

FASHIONADO