Sequins, Rum, and Reggaeton—Inside Miami’s Latin American Fashion Summit Gala
A few steps away from the Miami humidity, a crowd of fashion designers, buyers, and investors gathered at the entrance of the iconic Alfred I. duPont building. Inside, the space pulsated with an upbeat remix of a popular Madonna song, setting the mood for the celebration of the Latin American Fashion Summit’s (LAFS) annual competition that spotlights emerging talent in the industry—but not before getting a Zacapa rum-infused cocktail served to them through an ornate, brass iron-wrought bank teller window.
The building offered the perfect setting for an evening designed to celebrate emerging Latin talent. Built in the late ’30s as a symbol of the end of the Great Depression, its purpose was to stand as a symbol of triumph and welcome in a new era. In a complementary blend of history and haute couture, the mezzanine level, once the headquarters of the Florida National Bank, now played host to the next wave of Latin designers. The evening marked not just a celebration but also a pivotal moment for the winners of “Pitch to LAFS” contest, who each took home a $20,000 grant, a trunk show orchestrated by Moda Operandi, and invaluable mentorship courtesy of Miami’s prestigious Instituto Marangoni, amongst other tools to propel their careers.
“We noticed a lack of opportunities for the Latin American creatives in our industries and decided to create a physical meeting point where everybody could learn from the most brilliant minds in the industry, network, and create community," says Samantha Tams, co-founder of LAFS, of why this organization and awards program began. This year, they presented three prestigious awards, accompanied by an honorary mention, to four game-changers who stood out amongst a sea of over 1,500 applicants.
Guests included designers Carolina Kleinman and Johanna Ortiz, Aquazzura’s Edgardo Osorio, musician Emilio Estefan, Paravel’s Indré Rockefeller, Moda Operandi’s April Hennig, Audemars Piguet Ginny Wright, fashion film producer Fabiola Beracasa, model Karolina Kurková, Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martinez De Salas, Amazon Luxury’s Trisha Gregory, Gilt’s Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, GoGoLuxe’s Ramya Giangola, Birdies’ Bianca Gates, and more.
After a seated dinner in the North Ballroom, Tams and co-founder Estefania Lacayo took to the stage wearing Johanna Ortiz and Alexia María, respectively, to present the evening’s winners.
Raul Lopez (recipient of the inaugural Visionary of the Year award), Maria Elena Villamil (Latin designer of the year), Paola Sighinolfi (accessories designer of the year), and Chiara Macchiavello (social impact project of the year) all took to the stage and expressed their gratitude to the LAFS community for their recognition and support.
“All of the finalists were really excited to be in the room and be in the presence of really important buyers and consultants that have helped many of them grow their brands,” begins Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martinez De Salas. “Being in a room where you meet different people from the industry—someone from Net-A-Porter or even someone like Beracasa who works in fashion film—and getting their advice is invaluable.”
After the awards concluded, winners, finalists, and more gathered around the DJ and the cocktail-serving bank teller windows while jumping up and down to the pulsating beat of Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina”—taffeta gowns and colorful statement skirts swooshing to the music as they danced under the delicately painted cypress ceiling. The night had just begun.
Diana Zapata/BFA.com1/10
Diana Zapata/BFA.com2/10Raul Lopez