More than 30 designers. 400 to 500 guests each show. Four locations. Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach is known for its crowded shows (which can run fashionably late, of course), unique venue choices (from tents right on the sand to a converted movie theater), and the pumping music that sends the models down the runway—and gets hips gyrating and feet tapping throughout. EventStar owner Alain Perez and partner Aleksandar Stojanovic, of 3B Productions, are responsible for the mayhem and usually harness it within one location in Miami. This year, they took over four places including the newly opened Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, which Funkshion helped break in as the first public event held after its grand opening a few days before.
"When we realized the dates [for Funkshion] coincided with the opening of the Carnival Center, we knew we had to be a part of such a monumental occasion in Miami's history," said Perez. "For the remaining days, we decided to host the shows in three distinct locations because people come back daily to view all the shows, and we wanted to keep the experience fresh, exciting, and unexpected."
Fashion week kicked off at the center's Knight Concert Hall on Wednesday, October 11 with La Magia de la Moda, or the magic of fashion, hosted by Harper's Bazaar en Español. It featured the local and international designs of Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, Custo Barcelona, and Gustavo Cadile—who was named designer of the year by the magazine. Approximately 1,500 guests enjoyed champagne, cocktails, and passed hors d'oeuvres from Restaurant Associates such as sushi rolls; artichoke, asiago, and red pepper crostini; and pepper-crusted filet of beef with horseradish cream on a baguette. All the mingling and gawking at the beautiful design of the hall distracted the crowd enough that they didn't notice that the 8 PM show was running an hour and a half late. Once everyone was seated, the runway show began, with the "runway" being a 40-foot black carpet that ran the length of the stage. Michael Designs Inc. created a black fabric framed entryway for the models with Harper's logo. The opulent opening night set the stage for the remaining shows.
The fashion lineup for Thursday and Friday included shows from local designers to big names such as JLo and Heatherette. Everything took place in either a 40- by 82-foot main tent provided by EventStar or within The Fifth nightclub. Before the shows, guests mingled under a 25- by 60-foot prefunction tent that connected the two and gave sponsors (such as Mercury, Voss Water, Aveda, JetBlue, Peroni, and more) a place to advertise. New Image Productions provided the runway sets and audiovisuals while the Aba Agency coordinated all the shows. Inside the club, New Image built a 36-foot runway in the center of the space where live musical performances accompanied some of the fashion shows (such as Twinestones Elite Jewelry show, which featured music by the Soul Dub Quartet with Amerieda), and an overhead screen displayed everything from sponsor info to psychedelic images.
Heatherette filled the main tent to capacity about half an hour before the show even began. The brand's show had a tropical jet-setting theme where models entered via an entrance with a sunset backdrop and two mock airplanes with Heatherette logos; then, wearing lots of bold colors and prints, they walked to the beat of the Beach Boys down a 48-foot runway painted with a dotted yellow line (like those found on the road). Male models wore tiki skirts and many carried props like wheel-along briefcases and lighted airplane guiders. The JLo show was more toned down with the only decor being two black motorcycles flanking the entrance, but nothing else was needed as her models provided plenty of attitude.
Mrs. Marc Anthony had a second showing on Saturday for her Sweetface collection at the Hotel Nash. Fortrex built a 56-foot-long runway over the hotel's three swimming pools for models to walk down. Michael Designs built a 14-foot backdrop as well. Vogue hosted the show's after party at the hotel, where guests relaxed in Room Service's two lounge areas featuring all white ottomans, sofas, club tables, and topiaries. Funkshion Lounge & Restaurant sponsored the open bar. The hip lounge spawned from the fab event was also the official party spot for guests during the week once the shows were over.
—Albert del Toral and Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Angelo Cordero (JLo, Heatherette); Charles Allan Smith (The Fifth);
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"When we realized the dates [for Funkshion] coincided with the opening of the Carnival Center, we knew we had to be a part of such a monumental occasion in Miami's history," said Perez. "For the remaining days, we decided to host the shows in three distinct locations because people come back daily to view all the shows, and we wanted to keep the experience fresh, exciting, and unexpected."
Fashion week kicked off at the center's Knight Concert Hall on Wednesday, October 11 with La Magia de la Moda, or the magic of fashion, hosted by Harper's Bazaar en Español. It featured the local and international designs of Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, Custo Barcelona, and Gustavo Cadile—who was named designer of the year by the magazine. Approximately 1,500 guests enjoyed champagne, cocktails, and passed hors d'oeuvres from Restaurant Associates such as sushi rolls; artichoke, asiago, and red pepper crostini; and pepper-crusted filet of beef with horseradish cream on a baguette. All the mingling and gawking at the beautiful design of the hall distracted the crowd enough that they didn't notice that the 8 PM show was running an hour and a half late. Once everyone was seated, the runway show began, with the "runway" being a 40-foot black carpet that ran the length of the stage. Michael Designs Inc. created a black fabric framed entryway for the models with Harper's logo. The opulent opening night set the stage for the remaining shows.
The fashion lineup for Thursday and Friday included shows from local designers to big names such as JLo and Heatherette. Everything took place in either a 40- by 82-foot main tent provided by EventStar or within The Fifth nightclub. Before the shows, guests mingled under a 25- by 60-foot prefunction tent that connected the two and gave sponsors (such as Mercury, Voss Water, Aveda, JetBlue, Peroni, and more) a place to advertise. New Image Productions provided the runway sets and audiovisuals while the Aba Agency coordinated all the shows. Inside the club, New Image built a 36-foot runway in the center of the space where live musical performances accompanied some of the fashion shows (such as Twinestones Elite Jewelry show, which featured music by the Soul Dub Quartet with Amerieda), and an overhead screen displayed everything from sponsor info to psychedelic images.
Heatherette filled the main tent to capacity about half an hour before the show even began. The brand's show had a tropical jet-setting theme where models entered via an entrance with a sunset backdrop and two mock airplanes with Heatherette logos; then, wearing lots of bold colors and prints, they walked to the beat of the Beach Boys down a 48-foot runway painted with a dotted yellow line (like those found on the road). Male models wore tiki skirts and many carried props like wheel-along briefcases and lighted airplane guiders. The JLo show was more toned down with the only decor being two black motorcycles flanking the entrance, but nothing else was needed as her models provided plenty of attitude.
Mrs. Marc Anthony had a second showing on Saturday for her Sweetface collection at the Hotel Nash. Fortrex built a 56-foot-long runway over the hotel's three swimming pools for models to walk down. Michael Designs built a 14-foot backdrop as well. Vogue hosted the show's after party at the hotel, where guests relaxed in Room Service's two lounge areas featuring all white ottomans, sofas, club tables, and topiaries. Funkshion Lounge & Restaurant sponsored the open bar. The hip lounge spawned from the fab event was also the official party spot for guests during the week once the shows were over.
—Albert del Toral and Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Angelo Cordero (JLo, Heatherette); Charles Allan Smith (The Fifth);
Related Stories:
Moore Building Morphs Into a Fashionable Space
Big Names and Local Designers Meet at Funkshion
Funkshion Delivers Crowds and Big Name Designers
Fortrex created a runway over the pool at the Hotel Nash for JLo's Sweetface fashion show.
JLo's collection featured a mix of classic and modern designs.
As expected, Heatherette put on a wild and colorful show at the main tent built next to The Fifth nightclub.
Gustavo Cadile was Harper's Bazaar en Espanol 's designer of the year.
Dragana Ognjenovic sent models down the runway in edgy frocks.
The Fifth got equally packed during the fashion shows.
