THURSDAY, JULY 8
Bringing over 40+ must-see events, imaginative activations, exclusive launches, and runway presentations by top brands in swimwear The Magic City saw the true value of the diversity in brands filling PARAISO Miami Beach 2021, as evidenced by this year’s record-breaking attendance. The bouquet of swim, resort, and ready-to-wear fashion presentations shown will continue to set industry and consumer trends for the nearly $23 billion fashion industry well into 2022.
Day 1 of PARAISO kicked off with a cocktail hour and brunch at Joia Beach with Jonathan Simkhai Beach Club experience. Luxury ready-to-wear brand, curated a special presentation to showcase the swimwear and resort wear line that featured a color palette inspired by the lush palms, ferns, bright sky, and warm rocks of coastal islands. The collection featured sexy, strappy, bare swim silhouettes that highlight the female form.
In the afternoon we hosted a media welcome reception with El Tesoro tequila at the Townhouse Rooftop while enjoying the visually captivating make your own cocktail bar and unique blend of live drumming and DJ set.
Designer Sinesia Karol presented elegant silhouettes in both resort and swimwear to an audience that included model Isabeli Fontana and influencer Suzana Gullo Mion. The collection married light pastels, flowy florals, and asymmetric forms to create striking pieces that would be equally at home in the South of France, South Hampton or South Beach.
Returning to the PARAISO Tent this year, DESTINATION Colombia presented pieces featuring bold colors, wavy patterns, and detailed hand stitching from talented Colombian designers including Naranja Furcado, Ancora, Palmacea, Bahama Mama, Mar De Lua, Mola Mola and Smeralda. The evening ruled by Colombian fashion was closed by designer Liliana Montoya with her collection, “Gaia,” featuring romantic, imaginative pieces.
FRIDAY, JULY 9
Our second day started with DESTINATION Colombia showroom & brunch hosted for buyers and media at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach.
An industry panel luncheon discussion hosted by Courvoisier, featuring experts from Gorgias, Omnisend, Okendo, Simonett Pereira of Simonett, and Gregorio Hanimian, CEO of Luli Fama covered how the pandemic shifted consumer trends in the retail industry and the growing interest in the direct-to-consumer retailer model. The changes in how consumers buy for, style, dress for, and live their lives remain topical for all those in the fashion industry as an explosion in consumer spending and a dramatic edit in business strategy have caused multiple pivots throughout quarantine. As the industry and consumers continue to adjust to a new normal, those in attendance were abuzz with interest in this highly noticeable and topical trend.
Models of Color Matter (MOCM), a non-profit organization advocating for equity of black and brown models in the fashion industry on and off the runway, supported BFyne show held at the PARAISO Tent on Friday night. Retailer Simonett curated a see now, buy now “Futural Resist” show featuring pieces from their newest designers including Behen Studio, Lado Bokuchava, LEO, Tigra Tigra, and Sinobi, while Oh Polly showcased their newest swimwear collection Neena.
SATURDAY, JULY 10
To ease everyone into a fun-filled third day packed full of events, CARAVANA hosted a morning yoga class with guided breath work and sun salutations, following by an invitation-only shopping experience.
The day continued with Polynesian inspired presentation at The Plymouth pool capturing the true essence of Hawaii. Leimakani kept audience engaged with high-energy dance and models stoked to bring out your inner Moana.
Chromat sent swimwear industry a powerful message about inclusion via informal presentation and media gathering at The Ritz Carlton South Beach. Becca McCharen-Tran, the Chromat designer has built her brand on challenging fashion standards with an inclusive viewpoint and clothing designed for all. In her interview for Vogue magazine McCharen-Tran explained, “We were able to tell the story through a creative reimagining that is more gender-inclusive. It’s really about leadership, team building, working together, and feeling part of a community.” McCharen-Tran’s designs are steeped in optimism. Peppy colors and wearability is palatable to a multitude of ages, sizes, and tastes.
The direct-to-consumer brand Boohoo was a notable presenter at this year’s PARAISO Miami Beach, hosting a star-studded event on Saturday at the Versace Mansion that included a special appearance by Nikita Dragun, who closed the show wearing a blue bikini, and a performance by Ty Dolla Sign. Models including Suede Brooks, Erika Costell, and Kara Del Toro walked the runway in the brand’s hottest new looks for an audience that included a number of major influencers, actress Tessa Brooks and Madison Lewis, and TikTok stars Olivia Ponton, Brandon and Hunter Rowland, Charly Jordan, Hootie Hurley, and musicians Lele Pons, Indiana Massara, and Saweetie.
The must-see fashion show by Luli Fama “Revel in the Sun” celebrated the brand in their well known manner with great music, performances, and a parade of jaw-dropping swimsuits that we all need in our closet.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit marked its return to PARAISO Miami Beach with one of its most inclusive runway shows to date, held at the newly renovated Mondrian Hotel South Beach’s Baia Beach Club on July 10th. Guests gathered at the panoramic venue with the runway built over the spacious pool, with the beautiful Miami city skyline serving as the ultimate backdrop. Supermodel Jasmine Sanders opened the show and was followed by Natalie Mariduena, Kathy Jacobs, Brooks Nader, Katrina Scott, thirteen Swim Search hopefuls selected from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s annual open casting call, and Haley Kalil, the co-winner of the first-ever Swim Search open casting call, who made a surprise appearance.
Honey Birdette brought the heat to Miami Beach with the hottest runway featuring a capsule collection of luxury swimwear and its sizzling hot, lacy lingerie for the finale show on Saturday night at PARAISO Miami Beach. The collection featured styles in red, black, leopard and neon, with gold medallions and contoured cut-outs. The designs have also been constructed using Italian eco fabric made from recycled materials and plastics recovered from the Mediterranean Sea. Special performances by Winners of Rupaul’s Drag Race, Aquaria and Violet Chachki.
The last day at PARAISO Miami Beach kicked off with “The Spritzer House” by Maaji. Femme BnB,” the collection featured bold prints, bright color blocking, and fun embroidery details. No weather could slow down the models in such fabulous pieces, including Olivia Ponton, who walked in the show despite the day’s stormy weather. Over the past few years, an influx of celebrity designed swimsuit lines have been launched at PARAISO Miami Beach and have became trendsetting authorities on what to wear to beach or poolside. This year social-media celebrities Stefanía Roitman and Nicole Williams-English, singer Mary Racauchi, and model Johanna Chone debuted their collections on the final day of festivities. Stef’s My Happy runway show started and finished with a musical performance by Morelli and Mau y Ricky. TV star and model Nicole Williams-English presented her swimwear label Nia Lynn Collection inspired by the iconic aesthetic of the 1970s. The collection featured a fun mix of resort and swimwear pieces in bold colors and geometric prints. Johanna Chone’s Nalu Swimwear lineup was led by Dutch supermodel Daphne Groeneveld while DJ Vintage Culture spun beats.
The record-breaking, history-making PARAISO Miami Beach Swim Week 2021 came to a close with a private party hosted by The Blonds and Ocean Drive Magazine at Byblos Lounge. Miami glitterati merged with top fashion industry talent; swim designers, influencers, and creatives, to catch a first glimpse of The Blonds’ upcoming swimwear collection.
