As the longest-running fashion show in South Florida, Miami Fashion Week (MFW) launched its 22nd edition on Tuesday, the first in two years and its most innovative yet, marking its entry into the world of NFTs and metaverses.
MFW president Secundino Velasco, a Spaniard, told EFE that this year’s program, which also includes in-person fashion parades starting with Italy’s Missoni brand, will be “something very innovative,” adding that the event will also include in-person fashion parades.
MFW’s “resort” collections will be on display at Vizcaya, an eclectic palace built in 1916 that was the residence of magnate James Deering, as well as at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and the Gary Nader Art Museum of Latin America, from June 2 through June 5.
L’Atelier, the first NFT (non-fungible token) club for “members only” and devoted to the fashion industry, was a surprise at the official inauguration of MFW this year.
As of June 3, fashionistas, stylists, models and photographers alike will be able to work together in a creative environment at L’Atelier in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood.
Using a cyberspace logistical support network, people will be able to socially and economically interact with avatars, or online personalities, in the metaverse site known as “Decentraland.”.
Decentraland is an online virtual reality platform comprised of 90,601 “territory” parcels that is commonly referred to as a “metaverse,” a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. To buy NFTs, the online zone’s virtual property, you’ll need to use the Ethereum blockchain’s Mana cryptocurrency, which is one of the world’s most important cryptocurrencies alongside Bitcoin.
A panel discussion on fashion and sustainability will take place on Sunday at L’Atelier as part of the MFW festivities, but Velasco told EFE that the space is still under construction and will be gradually filled with additional content.
MFW attendees included Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and designers such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada of Spain and Angel Sanchez of Venezuela who will be showcasing their latest collections.
His first men’s fashion collection was presented in 2016 at MFW, where Antonio Banderas served as honorary president, and he apologized for not making it to the event due to other professional obligations.
From Milan, Sergio Salerni, the head of Urban Productions, sent a video praising MFW’s 22 years of history and its return after two years of absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Fashiongate,” a global over-the-top (OTT) media platform, will be launched in the autumn of 2023 by film and television director and producer Mark Steilen.
Over-the-top (OTT) media services bypass cable, broadcast, and satellite television platforms and deliver content directly to viewers via the Internet.
For Fashiongate to be like ESPN for fashion, Steilan said during his presentation that he wants to feature fashion shows, programs, and access to designers ranging from high-end couture and home-made clothing as well as allow interested buyers to purchase their designs.
As for the city’s desire to be a “global player” in the fashion industry, Mayor Suarez pointed out that the city already is in the art industry thanks to Art Basel and institutions like the Nader Latin American Art Museum, which houses an impressive regional collection, including numerous sculptures by Colombian master Fernando Botero.
Ruiz de la Prada will exhibit her collection at the Gary Nader Art Center in Wynwood, a Miami metro area neighborhood known for its art galleries and an open air museum featuring works by early figures in urban art.
In addition, Benito Santos from Mexico, Angel Sanchez from Venezuela and Rene Ruiz from Miami are among the other designers who will be showcasing their work at the show (RR).
The Frost Science Museum will host an Indian-American artist, Naeem Khan, for the final performance on June 4.
Events at the MFW combine fashion, culture, art, and sustainability.
Climate change and sea level rise are two of the biggest threats facing Miami, according to Mayors Levine Cava and Carlos Suarez.
