Paw-sitively stunning models strutted onto the runway in a warehouse in the Distillery District Saturday afternoon as City of Toronto Animal services made its debut at Fashion Art Toronto, the city’s longest running fashion week.
It was the first-time Toronto Animal Services has participated in a fashion event, an effort to bring exposure to large shelters dogs that the agency says remain in care up to one-and-a-half times longer than all other animals.
Four large dogs were chosen to walk the runway alongside models in a solo show by sustainable womenswear brand Sagradesa titled Villain Origin Story. Like villains, large shelter dogs are “very misunderstood” until their heart-felt origin stories come to light, said Toronto Animal Services manager of partnerships and animal services, Elena Trainoff.
Designer Maxime Chercover said the dogs were a natural fit for a collection themed around resilience.
“It’s about female strength and not giving up,” she said. “These dogs have been through so much and they're just trying to find good homes.”
The dogs were available for same-day adoption and stayed after the show to meet attendees who may have fallen in love with them on the spot.
Shelter dogs get runway ready
Staff at Toronto Animal Services came up with the idea of integrating dogs into a fashion show and pitched it to Fashion Art Toronto. Trainoff said they drew inspiration from similar showcases in other countries.
“We've never done anything like this before, and we're trying to expand the ways that we bring awareness to the types of animals that we have in our shelters, especially the ones that have to sit there for much longer than many of the others,” said Trainoff.
Because the agency does not hold dogs from adoption for events, the four canine models were chosen only a week before the show. Each of them has been at the shelter for a duration of one to three months so far.
To prepare them for the experience, staff brought dogs to the warehouse venue early to acclimate them to the anticipated bustle: crowds of people, music, and bright lights.
On the day of the event, each dog was accompanied by a Toronto Animal Services animal handler, supported by a trainer and additional staff. A table was set up for staff to share information on responsible dog ownership and adoption.
“I’m really hoping that they’re going to walk down the runway and be good boys and girls,” said Trainoff ahead of the event. “But of course big dogs are a little harder to handle sometimes. And we have models who are probably going to be in high heeled shoes.”
Models walked alone for the majority of the show, while handlers kept the dogs moving around backstage to keep them from getting antsy.
Brookie, a four-year-old labrador retriever mix was saved for the grand finale, walking alongside the final model, Ellejaii Jervis.
Attached to her companion by a polka-dot leash, Brookie looked around excitedly at the photographers and audience as the pair paused to pose in the spotlight. The model gave a firm tug to guide her away from the lights before continuing down the runway.
The other three dogs, Galetta, Jenny and Hennie, joined their handlers on the runway floor as the designer appeared to greet the audience.
The dogs then lingered on the runway for a brief meet and greet as attendees rose from their seats, before staff whisked them away to a nearby van like Cinderella leaving the ball.
“We thought it's a perfect way to connect the community of sustainable fashion lovers and animal lovers and put them in the same space with the dogs that need to be adopted,” said Chercover. “Hopefully it helps them find homes.