The fashion world is one of glitz and glamour, sleek bodies, glossy hair and gorgeous garments, and it reaches its peak during Cape Town Fashion Week with a whirlwind of catwalk shows and sophisticated after parties as designers, models, celebrities and fashionistas celebrate their beauty and style.

With every new collection, designers strive to deliver something fresh, exciting and innovative to wow their fans and trend-watchers, and to present a show which will have the audience gasping with joy.

For this Fashion Week, Craig Port has chosen the theme 'Faith Hope Love' to showcase his designs and has linked an unusual yet entirely appropriate element with his Craig Port and Miss Port couture — canine couture.

The relationship we have with our dogs — our most faithful and loving companions — is in keeping with the theme, and as such Cesar gourmet cuisine was thrilled to come on board and collaborate with Craig Port at his show at the Cape Town International Convention Centre this Friday, 21 August 2009.

'...scarves, collars, coats...'

Models will be sashaying down the catwalk accompanied by four highly pedigreed and meticulously groomed and coiffed Westies, which are the same breed famously featured on the Cesar packaging. The dogs will be stepping out in designer gear like scarves, collars, coats and accessories to complement the human couture and the theme of the show.

Later, at the exclusive VIP after party to be held at the Table Bay hotel in the V&A Waterfront, the models and the dogs will be on the red carpet to meet and greet guests and pose for photographs under the glitter of flashbulbs.

Dogs are as comfortable in this privileged environment as their fashionable owners; Port himself shares his life with three pooches — Reggie the weimeraner, Lulu the wirehaired fox terrier and Rocco the pug — and has approached the concept of designing for dogs for the first time with enthusiasm.

"Dogs are so beautiful it is very difficult to interfere with that natural look without looking cheesy so the challenge was to be functional and stylish at the same time," says Port.

"I'm delighted with the results, which were inspired by my theme of Faith Hope Love and tie in perfectly with the 2010 collection."

For the love of canines

Dressing our dogs in the same high-quality designer clothes as ourselves is just one of the ways we can show them how much they mean to us. Another is to feed them only the most superior meals. We wouldn’t want to eat the same thing every day, so why should we expect our best friends to do so? And as much as we enjoy indulging ourselves with luxurious treats, so do our dogs.

Port says he spoils Reggie, Lulu and Rocco with Cesar treats daily. "They are definitely indulged with walks every day… they are on the sofa when I'm not looking, and are allowed on the bed for morning cuddles," he smiles. This is what they mean when they say "It's a dog's life… "

Visit www.cesar.com for more information.