Miami Fashion Week is officially on

Day one of Miami Fashion Week (MIAFW) officially kicked off Wednesday, May 30 with a style-studded press conference at EAST, Miami the official hotel partner. MIAFW CEO Julio Iranzo took the stage to welcome guests and introduce Honorary President Antonio Banderas. Iranzo and Banderas were joined by famed creatives, such as MIAFW’s Creative DirectorLourdes Fernández-Velasco, renowned runway director Sergio Salerni and ProColombia’s Vice President of Exports Juliana Villegas. Additionally, City of Miami’s dignitaries Mayor Carlos A. Giménez and Mayor Francis Suarez, along with representatives from the community, such as Miami Fashion Institute Chairperson Asanyah Davidson and CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Dr. Narendra Kin, were also on the panel.

 

The conference was focused on the imminent global recognition of Miami as a fashion capital among New York, Milan, Paris and London since being named the second largest fashion week in the United States. Conversations also spanned topics of sustainability in the fashion industry, the evolution of Miami Fashion Week and the importance of giving back to the community.

Later that evening festivities began with the international fashion community filling the second level of Saks Fifth Avenue in Brickell City Centre (BCC) for the official MIAFW kick-off party. Stylized looks from each of the twelve designers showing at MIAFW were staged throughout the anchor store on models as chic onlookers enjoyed bites and beverages courtesy of Casa Tua Cucina.

The style-studded soirée was followed by the much-anticipated opening runway show that debuted Venezuelan-born designer Oscar Carvallo’s 2019 resort collection. The collection celebrated art, nature and femininity – a stunning contrast to the backdrop of Brickell City Centre’s futuristic architecture.

Looking forward, day two will include the first installment of the Miami Fashion Week Summit in collaboration with the Miami Fashion Institute at Miami Dade College and the Knight Foundation Fund at The Miami Foundation, which will be hosted fashion model and entrepreneur Valeria Mazza. Full details here.

 

The program will be followed by fashion shows by the Miami Fashion Institute’s and Miami’s very own, Rene Ruiz, who will debut his new brand RENE by RR.
(PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Miami Fashion Week)

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