Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach, the alternative fashion week celebrating the fashion and music worlds, wrapped up its 11th season of shows Sunday at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens. Beginning on October 1, this year's event took a more eco-friendly approach to fashion by partnering with Clean Planet Funding and bringing in a variety of energy and environmental experts to assist with the production of the week. The collaboration was the result of Funkshion planners' desire to reduce the carbon footprint of the event and educate those involved in the shows, as well as the community, about the effects of building green.
With about 65 percent of total electricity consumption in the country coming from buildings, event planners contacted Alain Perez of Eventstar-a top tenting and temporary structure company in Miami-to construct the show venues. From the runway over the pool of the Setai and the rooftop pool of the Gansevoort South Hotel and Residences to Funkshion headquarters in the Botanical Gardens, all of the shows took place outside.
The week began with the inaugural Red Dress Fashion show, benefiting the Go Red for Women campaign by the American Heart Association. A variety of designers created dresses specifically for the event. Before the show, guests enjoyed "Cointreaupolitan" cocktails and hors d'oeuvres from CuisineWorks in the Cointreau Lounge, the official sponsor of the event. The outdoor space featured white leather couches and chairs, branded glow boxes, crystal chandeliers, and a mini trade show, Coast. Funkshion partnered with the contemporary fashion trade show brand to display the designs of more than 125 apparel, jewelry, and accessory designers on October 2 and 3 before wrapping up with a "cash and carry" trunk show throughout the day Saturday.
Another event debuting at this year's fashion week was the Cookie Catwalk show sponsored by Cookie magazine, a family lifestyle publication from Condé Nast. Michael Designs added a graffiti hopscotch board to the runway while the pint-size models showcased the latest fashions from BabyPhat/Phat Farm, Gymboree, Hawke & Co., and more. The kids modeled while playing with a classic toy including hula hoops and scooters.
