Fashion has gone to the dogs! From New York to the Paris runways, models are catwalking with them.

Is it just my imagination?

According to Jonathan Berlin, Managing Director of Universal Display, man's best friend has not only invaded our homes, it has also invaded the fashion world.

"For sometime now, fashion has really taken dogs into consideration. Gucci, Prada and even the venerable British brand Burberry has gone into doggie fashion," Jonathan Berlin told FW when we interviewed him at his London office.

Berlin's observation is right on the mark. Dogs have been appearing on the runways since the Spring 2000 fashion season and has continued to do so.

As for doggie fashion, it is not only the big fashion houses who have embraced it. Emerging designers like Anne Bowen in the U.S. has created doggie outfits for charity auctions benefiting animal shelters.

"I believe it is a natural progression," answered Jonathan Berlin when asked why his firm decided to make dogs as props for store windows.

"There is a 'story' in every store window. Mannequins interact with each other and with the props in the frozen tableau of the window. Since it is art imitating life, why not put dogs in there too? After all, they are part of our everyday lives."

The idea of creating dogs as props started early this year for Universal Display. Mannequin sculptor Adrian Coe had to do research on what breeds of dogs are "fashionable" before the idea reached the drawing board.

When asked what breeds are fashionable, Jonathan Berlin answered without hesitation, the Bulldog, the Bull Terrier and the Tibetian Terrier.

"From our research, we found out that it is very fashionable to have certain breeds of dogs. Good example is the Greyhound which historically has been identified as a snooty breed. Talk about being retro, and you think of a Greyhound. People identify certain breeds of dogs for certain things, hence identifying fashion with them is a natural progression." Berlin commented.

"Adrian is still working on several sculptures of dogs, one of them a Greyhound. In fact, we are continually adding to the line as it proved to be very popular." he added.

When asked if there are Welsh Corgis, Queen Elizabeth's dogs on the works, he answered with a negative.

"The British is very loyal to the Queen, but they do not find her dogs fashionable," Berlin said with a laugh. "Seriously, although the Corgi is a very old breed, it is rare. So, it is not really surprising that people do not find them fashionable at all since they seldom see it."

Universal Display's line of dogs were introduced last May in New York and in London. According to Jonathan Berlin sales have been very brisk, and it is a qualified succes.

"The dogs have been so popular that we have been asked to make abstract replicas, painted in one color so that it can be used in different displays," Berlin said.

So, if you see a doggie in a window, check it out first if it is live or is it a mannequin.

For more information about Universal Display's dogs, please log on at: www.universaldisplay.co.uk

Universal Display Fittings Co Ltd
51 Mortimer Street
London W1W 8JH UK
Tel. +44 207 580 9471
Fax. +44 207 436 9732

Universal Display & Design Inc
138 West 25th Street
New York NY 10001 USA
Tel. +1 212 242 0374
Fax. +1 212 989 0706