Each year, Alain Perez, owner of EventStar and co-founder of 3B Productions with Aleksandar Stojanovic, choose a different venue to host Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami, a runway showcase that combines music and fashion. For the Fall/Winter 2006 show, they decided to showcase the collections of 22 designers in three tents that were erected on the beach just steps from the ocean and across the street from the Versace mansion.This year's five-day event witnessed a lot of firsts. It was the first time Fashion TV broadcast live from opening night. Supermodel Tyson Beckford walked Ryan Kenny's show, marking the first time a big-name model graced the Funskhion runway. The event also added more well-known designers, such as Ted Baker, Binetti, Fila, and Heatherette (who actually had never shown in Miami until this event). "Our goal each year is to bring more designers to Miami and expose them to the fashion scene here," Stojanovic said.
The shows were held in two tents adjacent to the reception area, which was contained inside an 80-foot octagonal tent where sponsors such as AXE, Red Bull, and Perrier had set up their own furniture groupings and lounges. Another 5,000-square-foot tented area complete with a stage was sectioned off for the release party for Grammy-winner "Little Louie" Vega, who performed live. Funkshion kicked off on Wednesday, March 22, with Baby Phat's fashion show on Lincoln Road and Lennox Avenue, which was blocked off for the show. More than 1,200 people turned out each night.
The turnout was a record-high despite the fact that the Winter Music Conference and Ultra Music Festival were occurring at the same time. "Timing was a big challenge because we were having a major show during two music festivals that alone put a strain on the city," Perez said. "Logistically, it was a difficult task to make sure everything the designers needed arrived at the venue." But it was an ideal time to host the show, since many professionals in the music industry were already in town. "For that reason, we chose a few designers to present collections that appealed to that industry, such as Heatherette, Efren Jarquin, Baby Phat, and Fila," said Matt Heien of Eastside Public Relations. All of the runway shows resonated with high-energy music spun by local celebrity DJs chosen by the designers.
On the closing night, revelers flocked to an after-party held at Funkshion Lounge & Restaurant. The hip dining-and-dancing eatery keeps the energy of Funkshion alive all year long.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Michael Bay, MB Productions(Heatherette)/George Mill (Baby Phat)
The shows were held in two tents adjacent to the reception area, which was contained inside an 80-foot octagonal tent where sponsors such as AXE, Red Bull, and Perrier had set up their own furniture groupings and lounges. Another 5,000-square-foot tented area complete with a stage was sectioned off for the release party for Grammy-winner "Little Louie" Vega, who performed live. Funkshion kicked off on Wednesday, March 22, with Baby Phat's fashion show on Lincoln Road and Lennox Avenue, which was blocked off for the show. More than 1,200 people turned out each night.
The turnout was a record-high despite the fact that the Winter Music Conference and Ultra Music Festival were occurring at the same time. "Timing was a big challenge because we were having a major show during two music festivals that alone put a strain on the city," Perez said. "Logistically, it was a difficult task to make sure everything the designers needed arrived at the venue." But it was an ideal time to host the show, since many professionals in the music industry were already in town. "For that reason, we chose a few designers to present collections that appealed to that industry, such as Heatherette, Efren Jarquin, Baby Phat, and Fila," said Matt Heien of Eastside Public Relations. All of the runway shows resonated with high-energy music spun by local celebrity DJs chosen by the designers.
On the closing night, revelers flocked to an after-party held at Funkshion Lounge & Restaurant. The hip dining-and-dancing eatery keeps the energy of Funkshion alive all year long.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Michael Bay, MB Productions(Heatherette)/George Mill (Baby Phat)
Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami kicked off with a Baby Phat show held on Lincoln Road.
Heatherette sent a trio of models in colorful and skimpy fashions down the graffiti-lined runway.
Richie Rich, co-designer of Heatherette, posed backstage with celebrity transsexual Amanda Lepore.
