New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology hosted its first-ever pet fashion show, Bark is the New Black, on April 22. The event showcased designs from 14 students enrolled in the school's new Pet Product Design and Marketing professional development certificate program, which is offered through the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Center for Professional Studies.

Zoe, a miniature poodle, modeled a design by student Margaret Nawrot.

“We very much wanted a vehicle by which we could show the students’ work,” Joan Volpe, managing coordinator of the Center for Professional Studies.

The show, which was organized by students in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s special events marketing and public relations class, featured both day and evening wear. Sweaters and the color pink were prominent in the day wear segment. Evening wear ranged from simple--a sleek velvet tunic--to flashy--a red and black gown inspired by Moulin Rouge.

A total of 11 dogs big and small decked in one-of-a kind designs participated in the show, presenting 22 looks.

Most of the students in the program have professional backgrounds in design and fashion. Some currently work in the pet industry, including Gladys Delgado-Garced, who owns Dog Gone Couture, a pet apparel and accessory design company based in Philadelphia.

In addition to the catwalk, the event included an exhibition area of pet products and accessories also created by students enrolled in the certificate program. Among the products on display were dog beds, bowls, collars and leashes, along with other apparel not featured in the show.

The Fashion Institute of Technology’s Center for Professional Studies launched the Pet Product Design and Marketing certificate program in spring 2008. About 45 students are currently enrolled in the program, Volpe said. The program consists of six courses: fashion design for pet apparel; pet accessory design studio; pet accessories and lifestyle product design; introduction to pet product branding; how to get your apparel and product concepts to market; and quick sketching for the pet product business. The program’s first group of students to complete the program is expected to receive certificates in June of this year.