ELYSIAN IMPACT’s Catwalk Furbaby Returns to NYFW, Bringing Couture, Rescue Dogs and a $25,000 Prize Together
New York Fashion Week once again made room for a different kind of runway star as ELYSIAN IMPACT’s fourth annual Catwalk Furbaby brought fashion designers, models and rescue organizations together for an event where style and animal advocacy shared the spotlight.
Created by ELYSIAN IMPACT founder, publisher, filmmaker and philanthropist Karen Floyd, Catwalk Furbaby returned with 10 rescue organizations, 10 designers and 20 looks competing in a runway presentation designed to raise visibility for animal rescue and the organizations working to protect animals.
Now in its fourth year, the event pairs fashion designers with animal rescue groups and models for a competition that uses the reach and excitement of New York Fashion Week to promote a cause beyond the runway. This year’s competition featured $25,000 awards spanning the People’s Choice, Judges’ and Publisher’s categories.
The 2026 participating teams represented a wide range of animal rescue organizations and fashion talent.
Second Chance Rescue NYC partnered with designer Victor dE Souza and models Rachel Donohue and Paige Erekat. Stand Up for Pits Foundation worked with Any Old Iron and models Briar Makenzie and Zoe Sellers, while Foster Adopt Rescue Transport, known as FART, teamed with Hot Girl Quilting and models Diane Ewert and Ella Gurney.
Wings of Rescue was represented by D’Marsh Couture and models Tajae Williams and Maggie Williams. Operation Kindness Humane Society partnered with Marc Bouwer and models Sabrina Perleshi and Sophie Sumner.
PetSet joined forces with Magpies & Peacocks and models Jill Branch and Brittany Alexis. Companion Animal Alliance worked with L’Agence and Cate Brown Studio, alongside models Heather Smith and Abby Epstein.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue teamed with Anne Fontaine and models Gia Firoozi and Sanna Evelilina Zake. Bridgeport Animal Rescue Connecticut, or BARC-CT, partnered with Bless Mazarura of Bless by Bless and models Denise Cuccia and McKinley Walton.
The Spartanburg Humane Society rounded out the lineup with designer Halyna Shunevych and models Elise Wheatley and Diana Pohorila.
The event brought together fashion and animal advocates while giving the participating rescue organizations an opportunity to introduce their work to a fashion-conscious audience.
This year’s judging panel included Camelia Entekhabifard, Dr. Christina Rahm and Jean Shafiroff. Charlii Sebunya served as emcee.
For Floyd and ELYSIAN IMPACT, Catwalk Furbaby represents an intersection of fashion, philanthropy and advocacy. By placing rescue organizations alongside designers and models during one of New York’s biggest fashion events, the annual presentation turns the runway into a platform for animals in need.
With couture looks, rescue dogs and competition prizes at the center of the event, Catwalk Furbaby once again demonstrated that fashion can command attention while helping shine a light on a cause.