Fashion Week of the Americas was launched in 1999 with 25 designers
from 12 countries presenting their collections to 70 international media.
Carolina Herrera was the special guest designer and recipient of the Lifetime
Achievement in Fashion Award. During this event, Mrs. Herrera requested
that the organizers of Fashion Week of the Americas create a council that would work to promote
the designers of Latin American as international rather than folkloric.
Shortly thereafter, the Council of Latin American Fashion Designers, Inc.
was formed specifically for this purpose.
Mrs. Herrera remains an Honorary
member of the Board of Directors.
In 2000, the second annual Fashion Week of the Americas showcased the collections of 27 designers
from 14 countries to 366 media. Oscar de la Renta was the special guest
designer and was honored with the 2nd Lifetime Achievement in Fashion
Award. With this significant growth, Fashion Week of the Americas has
become the largest Latin American fashion event in the US, and is the
ultimate international showcase for Latin style, beauty, fashion, music
and culture. In April 2001, the third annual Fashion Week of the Americas presented
the Fall collections of 35 of today’s top Latin American and Caribbean
fashion designers. Over 600 members of the international press attended
the shows representing more than 300 fashion, lifestyle, trade and business
publications, as well as television, cable and Internet outlets. |
