By: Lauren Cohen
It’s no secret: people in Miami like to look good.
Over the course of just a few short years, the Miami Design District has become a shopping destination on par with Rodeo Drive and Fifth Avenue, boasting luxury stores such as Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Hermès. And that’s only elevated Miami’s status as a burgeoning fashion capital, with high-profile events dedicated to all things fashion happening year-round. From runway shows to sample sales, we’ve put together a list of some of Miami’s most anticipated annual fashion events, so you’ll always have your styling fix.
Miami Fashion Film Festival (January)
An event celebrating everything fashion and film, the Miami Fashion Film Festival is devoted to advancing the fashion film genre through screening documentaries that delve into the psyche of fashion designers, fashion-in-film classics, as well as “style-filled” films that highlight fashion’s crucial role in cinema.
Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami (May)
With more than 300 manufacturing companies participating, Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami is a trade show that connects thousands of buyers, retailers and apparel executives over the course of three days at Mana Wynwood.
Miami Fashion Week (May/June)
Miami Fashion Week is five days of runway shows and parties that put a special focus on resort wear and international designers. The second-largest fashion event happening in the U.S., MIAFW solidifies Miami’s important status in the resort fashion world, while also using its partnership with Miami Dade College’s Miami Fashion Institute to host summits on topics related to sustainable fashion.
Miami Swim Week (July)
The biggest annual swimwear event in the world, Miami Swim Week attracts some of the top names in fashion every July for a week of runway shows, trade shows, VIP parties and fashion fun in the sun.
The Retreat Miami (July)
Life in Miami moves a mile a minute, and every now and then it’s good to take some “me” time. The Retreat, presented by FUNKSHION during Miami Swim Week, is a four-day fitness and wellness festival that’ll help you do just that. Featuring expertly curated events, runway shows, fitness classes, pop-ups from the hottest athleisure brands and much more, attendees have the chance to meet like-minded people and connect with some of the top leaders in the health and wellness industry.
The Bazaar For Good (November)
Fashion and philanthropy join forces for The Bazaar for Good, an influencer-powered event where you can shop some of the most popular names in fashion with all proceeds going to organizations that focus on helping the lives of disadvantaged children. Co-founder Danié Gómez-Ortigoza, a popular local influencer whose “Journey of a Braid” fashion Instagram account has more than 33k followers, thinks the diversity and strong influencer presence of Miami make it the perfect location for an event like this.
“We created a network of influencers that want to bring positive change through fashion by partnering with top brands, such as Ronny Kobo and Alice + Olivia, who donate products to us in exchange for social media awareness,” Gómez-Ortigoza says. “All the money goes to a different country every year. It has become one of the most anticipated events in Miami given our incredible selection, prices, on-site panels and A-list attendees. We created this event to bring positive change to the world thanks to the power given by our social media voices.”
Fashion For Breakfast (Year-round)
A monthly event courtesy of Soho Beach House, Fashion for Breakfast combines a delicious breakfast at Cecconi’s with in-person discussions with some of fashion’s top brand leaders. Past special guests include the founders of brands such as Eberjey, LoveShackFancy and Reformation.
Style Swap (Year-round)
Getting a cute new outfit has never been so easy! Style Swap, the new year-round event produced by the incredible team at Fika Events, gives you the opportunity to mix and mingle with other fashion lovers over a glass of wine, enjoy fun on-site activations such as a beauty bar hosted by ACURE, and get a killer new outfit for a steal! Here’s how it works: Each attendee brings a couple of brand new or lightly worn clothing items/accessories to the event, and then has the opportunity to switch it out for a new outfit that was brought by one of the other attendees.
“Miami is immersed in diversity and provides this city with different cultural experiences, people and fashion styles that spread a unique vibe throughout the 305,” say Fika Events co-founders Christine Archilla and Jessica Escobar. “All of these elements impact everyone in this community and our ever-changing ecosystem. Sustainability is a huge recurring topic in this city and the fashion industry. There's a shift toward shopping more consciously, and sustainability starts with thinking differently about what we buy and where. One simple solution: SWAP. Swapping is a fun and creative way to give your old clothes a new life.”
260 Sample Sale Miami (Year-round)
260 Sample Sale is renowned in fashion circles for being one of the most well-known and exciting sample sales out there. With brick-and-mortar setups in NYC and Beverly Hills, Miami has finally become part of the 260 Sample Sale family. With a brand new store in the Design District, Miami fashionistas can look forward to sample sales featuring deep discounts for some of the hottest brands in women’s fashion such as Reformation, Alice + Olivia and La Perla.