Fashion week's new name recognizes the support of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, said Sobol, who had previously held the event at Miami Beach hotels and in the Wynwood district. This year, in search of more space, she took the production to the Miami Beach Convention Center.
More than 50 designers from around the world participated in fashion shows and displays this year, with highlights including a Jamaica showcase, a swimwear show, and the Copa Airlines Showcase, featuring designers from Latin America.
Sobol's company, now known as Sobol-Perry Fashion Productions Inc., produced the this year's festivities, and plans to grow the event next year. The expansion will include a new trade show, increased educational efforts within the industry, and the production of events similar to Miami Beach International Fashion Week in other locations around the world.
Lights, sound, and staging for Miami Beach International Fashion Week were provided by Michael Designs, and A Joy Wallace Catering catered sponsor Goya's "Culinary Style Cafe." Other sponsors with booths at the show included Stella Artois, Barefoot Bubbly & Wine, Equinox, Copa Airlines, and Moroccanoil.
Antonio Calero, artistic director for Moroccanoil, designed all runway hair looks for the fashion shows and said the brand was proud to participate in the event because “it plays a special role in introducing the work of creative designer talent from Latin America and other parts of the world to new audiences here in the U.S.” Moroccanoil further leveraged its sponsorship by handing out product samples to fashion week attendees who visited their booth in the vendor area outside the runway space.
Sobol estimates that more than 10,000 people, including buyers and members of the media, attended fashion week over the course of the four days—a 27 percent increase over last year. Sobol was also pleased with the move to the convention center. "We look forward to hosting Miami Beach International Fashion Week there for years to come," she said.
