Founded by Estefanía Lacayo and Samantha Tams in 2018, the Latin American Fashion Summit has grown into a key global platform for accelerating Latin American fashion, wellness and lifestyle brands. The seventh edition of the event took place from Nov. 2 to 4 at The Moore building in Miami, uniting designers, founders, retailers, media and industry leaders for three days of tailored programming aimed at enhancing the visibility and market access for Latin American creative businesses.
This year’s summit focused on themes shaping the future of fashion, including cross-border retail, artificial intelligence, sustainability, wellness and brand storytelling. The program featured influential speakers from Moda Operandi, Shopbop, Revolve, Nordstrom, The Webster and Kering, alongside established and emerging talent from Latin America. Panel discussions, workshops and fireside chats covered topics like monetizing influence, building dream brands, rethinking leadership and exploring the legacy of iconic designers such as Naeem Khan.
Isabella Espinoza, Laura Karlin and Riska Rivianti.
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LAFS also expanded its creative collaborations. Disney hosted a panel on storytelling and cultural influence in Latin America, complemented by a museum-style exhibition and a student meet-and-greet. Natura Bissé contributed wellness masterclasses and treatments, highlighting self care’s role within the creative community. Zacapa Rum joined as an official partner, reinforcing the summit’s effort to unite luxury and culture through the region.
As WWD previously reported, Patricia Bonaldi, founder and creative director of PatBo, was honored with this year’s Visionary of the Year award during the event. The recognition was part of Zacapa’s continued partnership with LAFS, marking the third consecutive year the Guatemalan rum brand has celebrated leaders shaping Latin American design.
Stacey Caldwell, Mariela Rovito and Ruth Sommers.
The “Pitch to LAFS” competition stood out as the summit’s flagship event, presenting emerging Latin American brands to industry executives. Winners this year included Weise from Bolivia as Designer of the Year, La Torres from Argentina as Accessories Designer of the Year, and Supernaturae from Mexico for Social Impact. Prizes included mentorship, a $10,000 grant, a booth at the Coterie tradeshow, and promotional opportunities with Moda Operandi and ShopMy.
A public-facing Pop-Up featured more than 35 Latin American brands, facilitating direct engagement between designers, consumers and industry players. Sponsors and partners supporting the event included the Miami Design District, The Moore Miami, Kering and others.