Designers Silvia Tcherassi, Nicholas Felizola, and Julian Chang Receive Top Awards;
Jad Ghandour and Danasha Luxury Unveil $1.5 Million Gown
MIAMI – March 23, 2010 – Miami International Fashion Week™, the largest Latin American and international fashion event in the U.S., has wrapped up its 12th annual event with the ever-fabulous Miami Moda & Music Awards® show featuring celebrity hosts Ileana Garcia and Orlando Léon; Special Guest Designer Silvia Tcherassi received the 1st annual Victoria Puig de Lange International Style Award; and 500+ guests were entertained with a special live performance by international recording star Marala.
Declared the official fashion week for the City of Miami by Mayor Tomas Regalado, MIFW took place March 18–21 at the Shops at Midtown in Miami’s trendy Wynwood District and was presented by Wellaflex, Stella Artois and Copa Airlines. Celebrities who attended this year included music legend Emilio Estefan. The Awards presenters included actor/model Vincent De Paul, Bravo TV’s Sandra Madiji and Pablo Hernandez, Tiffany & Co.’s Henry Gonzalez, and popular personalities Elaine Lancaster, Rodner Figueroa, Sixto Nolasco, and Hamlet Garcia.
In addition to dozens of Spring collections revealed on the runway, MIFW held international competitions in fashion, photography and graphic arts with entries and finalists from all over the world.
“There is no doubt that this was our best year ever,” said MIFW Founder and President Beth Sobol.
“We had more than 58 international designers from 22 countries throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Europe, who revealed their latest collections in women’s evening wear, prêt-a-porter, swimwear, men’s wear, jewelry and accessories. The judges had a tough time selecting this year’s winners.”
The following is a complete list of the 2010 Miami Moda & Music awards recipients:
International Student Designer of the Year – Fatima Mohammed
Student Fashion Photographer of the Year – Emily Marie
Student Graphic Artist of the Year – Eric Clapper
Emerging Designer of the Year – Prashant Sudha
Prêt-A-Porter Style Award – Julian Chang
Excellence in Eveningwear Award – Jad Ghandour
Men’s Style Award – Nicolas Felizola
Victoria Puig de Lange International Style Award – Silvia Tcherassi
Designers Choice Award – Nicolas Felizola
Top Model of the Year – Ivana
Celebrity Style in Music – Marala
Tiffany Jewelry Design Award – Ankora Jewelry Designs
Creative Accessories Design Award – Vanessa Boulton Handbags
International Rising Star – Deepak Perwani, Pakistan
International Rising Star – Kanchana Thalpawila, Sri Lanka
MIFW also presented MIFW Humanitarian Award co-hosted by Tiffany & Co. to the following recipients: Florida Marlins President David Samson, WPLG News Anchor Laurie Jennings, Miami Beach Entrepreneur Michael Capponi, Gallery Owner Gary Nader, Yolanda Berkowitz, Michelle Bernstein, Jessica Goldman-Srebnick, Ami Glottmann, Abigail Pollak, and Stephanie Sayfie-Aagaard.
Among MIFW’s many fashions revealed this year was the stunning Danasha Luxury Gown by Jad Ghandour – an exquisite work-of-art consisting of diamonds and 18-K gold valued at $1.5 million.
The International Culinary Arts Pavilion sponsored by Whole Foods Market, A Joy Wallace Catering, and Johnson & Wales University, featured a different celebrity chef each night who prepared a tasting menu based on the countries the designers were showing from that evening: Ron Duprat, Executive Chef at Latitudes on the Beach and “Top Chef: Las Vegas” Competitor; Elgin Woodman, Executive Chef at A Joy Wallace; Richard Hales, Executive Chef at Sakaya Kitchen, and Ivo Mazzon, Executive Chef at Joey’s Italian Café.
The entertainment didn’t stop there – live performances by international artists included five-time Grammy Award winner MATHEUS, recording sensations MARALA, RIA and MIGUELO, and Latin Grammy nominee for Best New Artist, CLAUDIO CORSI.
Miami International Fashion Week was presented with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
About Miami Fashion Week
Beth Sobol, President of Sobol Fashion Productions, Inc., founded Miami Fashion Week® in 1999 following a successful career as an international fashion model. She has worked with some of the fashion world’s most influential designers and producers and launched Miami Fashion Week to provide a platform for designers from Latin America to gain international exposure. During the past 12 years, MFW has evolved into one of the world’s premier fashion events spotlighting designers from Europe, USA and Canada, the Caribbean, Middle East and Asia as well as the largest showcase of Latin American design talent in the United States.
About The Miami Fashion Week Foundation
The Miami Fashion Week Foundation, Inc. is a § 501(c)(3) independent, not-for-profit organization formed as the entity to generate funds and accept corporate and private contributions for charitable and philanthropic initiatives. Operating year-round, the foundation hosts a variety of fundraising events to raise scholarship funds that benefit the emerging designers and students studying fashion design, fashion photography, film and graphic arts involved with the Miami International Fashion Week™ competitions. Among other exciting prizes including mentoring and study abroad programs, the competition winners will receive a cash prize from the MFWF Scholarship Fund as part of their award.