Pet fashions and accessories reflecting social responsibility and sustainability will be shown on the runway at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) sixth annual pet apparel and accessories runway show, BARK Smart. This always-popular event will take place on Friday, May 2 from 5-7 pm in FIT’s Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, Seventh Avenue at 27th Street.
Dogs of various breeds and sizes will showcase environmentally friendly pet garments, accessories, and products created by students and alumni of the FIT Center for Professional Studies’ Pet Product Design and Marketing professional development certificate program.
“We selected products that embody the theme of being a smart owner and consumer when it comes to one’s pet and investing in products – food, care, toys, accessories, habitat, and apparel that stress health, nutrition, protection, safety, and comfort and positively affect the environment,” said Joan Volpe, managing coordinator of the FIT Center for Professional Studies. “These translate into organic fabrications and ingredients, breathable synthetics, and cut and fit that take animal anatomy into consideration and result in items that are comfortable and natural for an animal to wear.”
The show is being produced by students in FIT’s Events Planning professional development certificate program, which also is offered through the FIT Center for Professional Studies. “This real-world experience gives the students an opportunity to produce an actual event as part of earning their certificate and provides a vehicle for Pet Product Design students to showcase their work and talent,” Volpe said. “Since the Pet Product Design program’s inception seven years ago, a number of certificate holders have gone on to start their own pet product lines or enter the pet product world.”
Admission is $10. Please visit fitnyc.edu/bark to register. The electronic receipt will serve as the admission ticket to the show. To view previous shows, visit youtube.com/user/FITProfStudies.
The Pet Product Design and Marketing professional development certificate program is noncredit and consists of 11 courses, five required and six selected from a list of optional courses. Required courses include Who’s Who in the Pet Products World, Introduction to Pet Product Brand Creation, How to Get Your Pet Apparel and Product Concepts to Market, Retail Market and Merchandising for Pet Products, and Career Opportunities in the Pet Market World.
The Center for Professional Studies, a department in FIT’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, offers 12 professional development certificate programs and a wide array of other noncredit courses. These courses of study, providing comprehensive coverage of a particular career specialty or field, are geared toward industry-experienced individuals seeking career advancement or change.
The Fashion Institute of Technology, a part of the State University of New York, has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology for nearly 70 years. With a curriculum that provides a singular blend of hands-on, practical experience, classroom study, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, FIT offers a wide range of outstanding programs that are affordable and relevant to today’s rapidly changing industries. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers more than 45 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the global marketplace.