by Lizet Esquivel
Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS) the powerful community renowned for its omnichannel platform showcasing Latin American talent to the world, organized its annual summit from November 9 to 12, 2024 in the Design District of Miami, to bring together globally respected industry leaders to inspire Latin American fashion professionals.
The agenda of the event was composed of various activities such as:
1) Activations such as Sound Healing with Pamela Padilla, Wellness Activation with Andrea Minski, and Wellness Activation with Andrea Minski among others.
2) Intimate Talks as: Made in Colombia: The keys to the success of Colombian fashion, Luxury, Leadership & Legacy: Insights for the Next Generation of Fashion Entrepreneurs – Powered by Kering Group, Leading Innovation in the Luxury Industry, Mastering the Art of Fashion Curation & Merchandising, Victoria’s Secret: Embracing Diversity and Redefining the Future of Fashion. Powered by Victoria’s Secret.
3) Social events and networking sessions: Opening cocktail party presented by Maison Perrier and Lalo, Happy Hour Hosted by Promperú, Closing Cocktail Party at Alfred Dupont Building among others.
4) Pop Up: An impeccable curatorship of the best of Latino Design.
5) Workshops: Some to be highlighted are Q&A with Maria Williams Senior Buyer at Net-a-Porter; Public Speaking Mastery: Crafting Compelling Messages with Ann Keil Dux Emmy-Winning Media Expert & Strategic Communications Consultant; PR: Crafting the Perfect Email Pitch with Veronica H. Speck, CEO & Founder VHS Ventures.
6) IN-STORE EXPERIENCES: Just name a few, Eye-lifting treatment with Dr. Barbara Sturm at the Isa Grutman Flagship Store and special Treats by Bubba’s Ice at the Isa Grutman Flagship Store, just to mention some.
One of the biggest impacts and a great differentiator of this event is precisely the Pitch to LAFS, which is an annual contest in search of the next great talents of Latin American fashion, only 9 are selected in the region; The finalists faced a distinguished jury of executive directors, fashion directors, buyers, established designers, stylists, editors, and consultants, some of the most influential figures in the fashion world as: Jen Daft GMM of Apparel- Shopbop, Stacey Caldwell, Founder – Caldwell Creative Studio, April Hennig, Chief Merchandising Officer, and marketing officer in Moda Operandi, Eva Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chair of Advisory Board Istituto Marangoni Miami, Will Cooper, Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager Women´s Designer RTW, Shoes and Handbags, Saks Fifth Avenue, Alejandra Rositto, CEO of Bottega Veneta Americas, among others. The prizes included money, trunk shows with retailers, mentorship sessions, and most importantly visibility.
Every designer who has won and has been a finalist is today a success story in the global and regional market. That´s why the winners of this 2024 are the new top talents to watch in 2025. Pitch to LAFS has 3 categories and the winners of this edition are:
Latin Designer of the Year 2024: BAOBAB (Colombia)
As a restorative brand, it turns waste into iconic pieces while restoring coral reef ecosystems. As a Colombian-based label, the BAOBAB team has come to understand sustainability as the only guarantee of prolonged, quality life on this planet. They believe in the power of trend innovation to position materials and generate a positive impact. They want each garment to tell a sustainability story.
Accessories Designer of the Year 2024, STUDIO CONCHITA (México)
It is located in Mexico City, founded in 2019 by the jewelry artist Renata Blanco. Its characteristic material, glass, is being reused to create jewelry and objects. She seeks to translate the organic materiality of glass into metals such as gold and silver through goldsmithing, creating unique and tailor-made pieces.
Social Impact Project of the Year 2024, CURATORIA (Argentina)
Curatoria is a fashion brand inspired by Argentina’s rich cultural heritage, merging traditional craftsmanship with sustainable luxury. Partnering with artisans across diverse communities, they create handcrafted garments that celebrate tradition, artistry, and social impact. Redefining luxury, Curatoria proves true luxury isn’t just what you wear-it’s the story woven into each piece.
The guest speakers who participated are renowned leaders in the sector at an international level as: Carolina Ortiz – Vice President PR & Communications for Miami, Latin America & the Caribbean at Tiffany & Co; Natacha Lamour-Nahim – President of Hublot North America & Caribbean; Sissi Freeman – Marketing and Sales Director at Granado Rio de Janeiro; Stephanie Phair – Former Group President at Farfetch & Former Chair of the British Fashion Council; Caroline Huang Maguire – Senior Fashion Director at Shopbop; Antonio Campos – VP Concept, Victoria’s Secret & Pink; Alexandra Winokur , President Americas at Christian Dior Couture.
LAFS was backed by great brands and personalities among them: Craig Robbins CEO and founder of Miami Design District, Istituto Marangoni Miami, Kering, Granado, and Victoria´s Secret, among others.
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