By Pamela Price

Fashion-conscious owners of pets, from cats and dogs to rabbits and monkeys, share something in common: a passion for fashion.  In Laurren Darr’s book, Pet Fashion Industry Patterns, it all comes together in a fascinating review of pet finery's burgeoning market. The author says, “I want to show how close the bonds can be with our pets through fashion.”   Her expertise is invaluable from the moment she reveals impressive statistics on the future of pet fashions. Proving her point, for example, in 2015, the pet industry surpassed the $60 billion mark in the United States, according to the  American Pet Products  Association.

Today canines and felines alike take to the ‘runway shows’ with aplomb, revealing fashions from iconic fashion industry personalities. Pet   inspired   fashion events will become as glamorized as the fashion weeks you see in cities such as the ones staged in Paris and New York, with wardrobe assists from the ever-savvy  behind the scenes  “pet fashion stylist."  Adding to pet grooming dynamics is a new wave of earth-friendly pet maintenance products such as Begley’s    Natural Waterless Pet Shampoo, in snazzy scents such as   ‘oatmeal mango’ and a companion product, also  Earth Responsible, a Natural  Pet Stain & Odor remover.  Pet models are becoming crowd-pleasers, as can be seen at petfashionprofessionals.com/ap.

Check out LeftPawPress.com for current information on pet fashions. Shifting to feline fashions, Lauren Darr reports that   “cats outnumber dogs in the household pet category,"  adding that the  American   Pet Products  Association reports. In contrast, dog ownership hovers around 83.3 million,   cats are in the lead, with the ownership estimated at   95.6 million, and that number is rising. Designers are reaching out to the cat community, including stylish feline items from collars and clothing to harnesses.

From a philanthropic perspective, “it looks likes dogs, and cats might even share the runway in the future," comments  Grace Robbins,  author, and owner of  Luke,  her furry friend of eight years.