Fierce and ferocious, doggies rule the catwalk during Grady fashion show

Well-dressed pups and their adoring owners received plenty of applause during the third-annual “Doggies on the Catwalk” fashion show Friday at the Georgia Public Broadcasting studio. But the biggest fanfare was reserved for students of the UrbanCouture fashion design program and their founder, teacher Vincent Martinez.

“Each year the show gets bigger and bigger,” he told the crowd assembled in the broadcast studio. “This year we set the bar and then flew right over it!”

Students created trench coats, party dresses, slacks and sweaters for celebrities such as radio personality Frank Ski, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano and actress Catherine Dyer. Pooches also got into the act with student-designed headbands, pantsuits and dresses. Each year, the proceeds go to PALS Atlanta, a non-profit organization that provides vet care for the pets of elderly and terminally ill Atlantans.

The fashion show, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, will air in a one-hour documentary at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, and again at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, on Georgia Public Broadcasting (Comcast cable channel 8). While the fashion faux pas were few and far between, the collection of stylish gear created by high school students drew rave reviews. UrbanCouture is an innovative program that allows high school students to learn the basics of fashion design, marketing and presentation. The fruits of their labor go on display throughout the year, highlighted by the extremely popular “Doggies on the Catwalk” event.

After the documentary airs, you can expect to have a much more difficult time scoring a ticket to this show next year! Check out the photo gallery from this event.