An increasingly influential global fashion event, Miami Beach’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, will once again be taking place this summer at The Raleigh.
From July 15th through the 19th, for the sixth consecutive year, The Raleigh will host a slew of swimwear shows and events. Despite the looming recession IMG Fashion just announced that its line-up for Swim Week has a record number of designers showcasing their collections for 2011.
The executive producer of the event, Christina Neault (Fern Mallis has left IMG), noted in a press release that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim is the leading “platform globally for designers and swimwear brands to showcase their collections to the world,” adding that IMG is excited to celebrate a talented roster of designers, this season. Neault also remarked that she believes that the growing interest in the Miami event points to “the strength of swimwear as a growth market around the world and the important role this event plays in the industry.”
Swim Week will kick off with a runway show by Trina Turk and an opening party, followed by four consecutive days of shows featuring collections from White Sands Australia, Beach Bunny Swimwear, Dolores Cortes, Swell Suits Miami featuring Naila and Park & Ronen, Ed Hardy Swimwear, Crystal Jin, Swimwear Anywhere, Mara Hoffman Swim, Poko Pano, True Religion Swimwear, Aqua di Lara, Red Carter, Cia.Marítima, Luli Fama, Caffé Swimwear, Nicolita, Marysia Swim, Lisa Maree, Aquarella Swimwear, Lisa Blue, Kooey Swimwear Australia, and Tyler Rose.
Trina Turk, True Religion, Ed Hardy, and Mara Hoffman will obviously be the big draws in terms of celebrities and A-list editors, but I’m excited to see the work of some of the up-and-comers, including Nicolita and Lisa Blue. Some of the newer designers will likely outshine a few of the more established names (ahem, Ed Hardy).
The collections shown at The Raleigh will take place in two runway venues, the Cabaña Grande and the Oasis, as well as The Raleigh’s pool and penthouse.
