By: Tracy Sanders, Co-Editor | tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — ELYSIAN, a Spartanburg-based women’s lifestyle brand and philanthropic enterprise, has been awarded the Fashion with a Purpose Award at the 2025 New York City International Fashion Film Festival (NYCIFFF) for its documentary CatWalk FurBaby 2.
The film was selected from more than 800 international submissions and screened among just 40 finalists from 14 countries. The award was presented during the festival’s closing ceremony on September 17 at Soho House New York, capping the third annual edition of NYCIFFF.
Founded and led by Spartanburg native Karen Floyd, ELYSIAN has built a reputation for pairing style with purpose. CatWalk FurBaby 2 showcases the missions of leading nonprofits and demonstrates how fashion and film can drive awareness, fundraising, and long-term impact.
“It is truly a night to be celebrated,” said Floyd, ELYSIAN Founder, Publisher, and Executive Producer of the film. “Out of more than 800 submissions, to have CatWalk FurBaby 2 recognized as the winner in Fashion with a Purpose is both humbling and inspiring. Thank you to The ROOT Brands and DRC Ventures for their support, to our brilliant Pedro Oberto and Marc Bouwer for creating such a meaningful platform, and to Consuelo Vanderbilt for presenting this honor with such grace. We are deeply grateful to our publicist Norah Lawlor and to the entire ELYSIAN family, including ELYSIAN Impact—our philanthropic arm dedicated to changing the world one story at a time. Most of all, thank you to the charities whose missions inspire us, the designers and models who bring our vision to life, and the guests and supporters who ensure these causes continue to thrive. This award is a celebration of purpose, philanthropy, and the enduring legacy of storytelling through film.
”The 2025 festival brought together filmmakers, designers, and storytellers from around the globe. Highlights included the exclusive screening of the fashion documentary A Man With Sole – The Impact of Kenneth Cole, followed by a live Q&A with designer and activist Kenneth Cole, award-winning director Dori Berinstein, and Festival Director Pedro Oberto.
“This year’s edition received more than 800 submissions from around the world — our biggest season yet,” said Oberto. “The 40 selected films represent the diversity in fashion and storytelling that the world needs today. Every filmmaker should be proud of their achievement.
”The award builds on the success of the original CatWalk FurBaby, which won Best Fashion Documentary at the 2023 NYCIFFF. Its sequel expands the vision by creating customized film cuts for nonprofit partners, allowing them to use cinematic storytelling as a tool for fundraising, outreach, and donor engagement long after the lights fade at New York Fashion Week.
The New York City International Fashion Film Festival (NYCIFFF) is dedicated to celebrating the art of storytelling through fashion film. Now in its third year, the festival continues to amplify global voices at the intersection of cinema, style, and culture.
Headquartered in Spartanburg, ELYSIAN is a women’s lifestyle brand whose mantra is “Women Inspiring Women.” Through its philanthropic arm, ELYSIAN Impact, the organization has disbursed more than $17 million to initiatives supporting women, children, animals, service, and the environment.
Author: Tracy Sanders
