• Boujie Paws Co's Dawn Appel with her pet Hepburn, wearing co-ordinated purple looks. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Boujie Paws Co's Dawn Appel with her pet Hepburn, wearing co-ordinated purple looks. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Canine fashion brand Boujie Paws Co hosted its first dog fashion show at Vida Emirates Hills, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Canine fashion brand Boujie Paws Co hosted its first dog fashion show at Vida Emirates Hills, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Noor Al Ghanim and Floof on the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Noor Al Ghanim and Floof on the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • A dog-lover posing with her picture-perfect pooch. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A dog-lover posing with her picture-perfect pooch. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Reem Abousamra and Mochi on the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Reem Abousamra and Mochi on the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Farah Zafar and Rocky on the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Farah Zafar and Rocky on the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Rolly the Dalmatian channelling his inner mermaid. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Rolly the Dalmatian channelling his inner mermaid. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • St Bernard do Beethoven on the Boujie Paws Co fashion show runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    St Bernard do Beethoven on the Boujie Paws Co fashion show runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Rachel Cruickshank and Cookie walk the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Rachel Cruickshank and Cookie walk the runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • The dogs wore designs by Boujie Paws Co. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The dogs wore designs by Boujie Paws Co. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Roy Fernandes walks the runway with Drake the dog. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Roy Fernandes walks the runway with Drake the dog. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Monochrome styling for fluffy pet pooch and owner, Noor Al Ghanim and her pet Floof. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Monochrome styling for fluffy pet pooch and owner, Noor Al Ghanim and her pet Floof. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dogs and their owners made walking the runway look easy. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Dogs and their owners made walking the runway look easy. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Boujie Paws Co's owner Dawn Appel and her pet dog, Hepburn. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Boujie Paws Co's owner Dawn Appel and her pet dog, Hepburn. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fitness coach Jevily Florida walking the runway with Hepburn. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Fitness coach Jevily Florida walking the runway with Hepburn. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • The dogwalk - sorry, catwalk - had a Dubai skyline backdrop. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The dogwalk - sorry, catwalk - had a Dubai skyline backdrop. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Bold red styling on a cute little pooch called Drake. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Bold red styling on a cute little pooch called Drake. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A prim and proper pooch. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A prim and proper pooch. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Modelling is tiring work, famously. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Modelling is tiring work, famously. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Noor Al Ghanim and Dawn Appel on the Boujie Paws Co runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Noor Al Ghanim and Dawn Appel on the Boujie Paws Co runway. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Beethoven, the St Bernard dog, head of his modelling turn. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Beethoven, the St Bernard dog, head of his modelling turn. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Luna the dog enjoying her close-up. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Luna the dog enjoying her close-up. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • A cute moment between pooches Cookie and Drake. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    A cute moment between pooches Cookie and Drake. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Lily the pooch sporting a Boujie Paws Co design. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Lily the pooch sporting a Boujie Paws Co design. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
  • Jevily Florida and Hepburn, showing off their tricks. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co
    Jevily Florida and Hepburn, showing off their tricks. Courtesy Boujie Paws Co

A dog's life: pooches take to the runway in Dubai for pet fashion show


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

We're all familiar with haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion, but what about haute canine and ready-to-wag looks? That was exactly what was on offer at a dog fashion show in Dubai this week.

VIP (very important pooch) fashion brand Boujie Paws Co hosted its first runway – not run away – fashion show for four-legged friends at the pet-friendly destination Vida Emirates Hills on Tuesday. The dogwalk – sorry, catwalk – welcomed a group of high-profile animal lovers walking with their pets in tow, sporting designs by Boujie Paws Co.

Owner of the brand, Dawn Appel, was joined by local celebrities Reem Abousamra, Roy Fernandes and Farah Zafar, as well as fitness coach Jevily Florida and event co-ordinator Noor Al Ghanim.

Dogs that walked included a St Bernard named Beethoven, a Dalmatian called Rolly and Appel's own pet dog, Hepburn.

The brand was launched by Appel in January this year, with the intention of creating "boujie yet affordable dog clothing".

"Since my child has paws, I am inspired everyday by Hepburn who happily models for me on a daily basis," Appel tells The National of the event.

"They say animals are not the easiest to work with, but I love all dogs, so each day is fun for me."

She says that feedback from the event was "so heartwarming and overwhelming", and promises to be back with another dog fashion show in the next few months.