Inside the Latin American Fashion Summit Closing Ceremony

Photo by: Silvio Garcia

In the heart of South Beach, steps away from the ocean, the seventh annual Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS) drew to a close this month by hosting its celebratory finale inside the Temple House. Founded by Samantha Tams and Estefania Lacayo, the mission of LAFS is to uplift, champion, and propel Latin American brands through mentorship and access. And to conclude the buzzy three-day event in Miami, the winners of the ‘Pitch to LAFS’ initiative for emerging brands were unveiled during a glamorous cocktail ceremony.

Inside the colossal Art Deco-style event space, a guestlist of prominent designers, buyers, editors, models, content creators, and investors kicked things off over Zacapa rum and Lalo Tequila cocktails as they swapped notes on their outfits (naturally, Latin American labels abounded). Brazilian designer Patricia Bonaldi was also being honored with this year’s Visionary Award, in recognition of her label PatBo, which she launched in 2002 in a bid to fuse traditional Brazilian techniques, embellishment, and embroidery with contemporary silhouettes. In a shimmering metallic gown, Bonaldi took to the stage to graciously accept the accolade and thank her family for their support, as fellow designers including Jonathan Simkhai and jeweler Monica Sordo applauded from the crowd.

After impressing a panel of industry leaders in the days previous, three designers-to-watch were chosen by executives and revealed on the night. Weise Atelier by Ericka Suárez Weise from Bolivia was announced as Designer of the Year, Jimena Torres of Argentina bagged the Accessories Designer of the Year prize, and Supernaturae’s Benedicte Lux from Mexico received the nod for Social Impact Project of the Year. As part of their win, the trio will each receive $10,000 in seed capital to invest in their endeavors, a trunk show on Moda Operandi, a booth at Coterie trade show in Manhattan in February 2026, one year of mentorship with LAFS leaders, and a six-month ShopMy Premium Plan to boost their brand. Rounding out the night, there was an additional surprise with the announcement of one more honoree. Former LAFS winner Isabella Espinoza, founder of Baobab, was instrumental in bringing the Cascade Challenge—a sustainable, circular fashion initiative—to the summit for the first time. Alquimia by Juliana Granados from Colombia emerged as the victorious brand.

“I am incredibly proud of what we achieved this year,” co-founder Estefanía Lacay said, beaming with pride. “This year truly showed the power of community—what can happen when we bring people together with intention. From the workshops and breakout sessions to the panels and the pop-up shop with 35 brands, you could feel the energy, the collaboration, and the generosity in the room. LAFS has always been about building bridges, creating opportunities, and expanding our collective impact—this was a beautiful reminder of that.”