Miami Fashion Institute Celebrates 10 Years at Annual Graduate Fashion Show
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The Miami Fashion Institute (MFI) at Miami Dade College celebrated its 10th anniversary on June 4 with its annual graduate fashion show at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami. Held in collaboration with Miami Fashion Week, the invitation-only event showcased collections from graduating students selected by a panel of fashion industry professionals.
The industry jurors included Lourdes Fernandez-Velasco of Miami Fashion Week, designer Naeem Khan, wardrobe stylist Danny Santiago, and Maria Buccellati of Faith Connexion. Fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo participated in student activities throughout the week and served as the guest of honor for the graduating class.
The evening concluded with an awards presentation recognizing student excellence across several categories. Teresa Chumpitaz received the Ruben and Isabel Toledo Award, while Amanda Rodriguez won the Retail Concept Award presented by Saks Fifth Avenue.
"Receiving the Saks Fifth Avenue Retail Concept Award is an incredible honor and a meaningful milestone at the beginning of my career," Rodriguez said. "This recognition affirms the vision behind 'Where Light Rests' and the dedication invested in bringing the collection to life."
Mauro Blanc won the Collaboration Award from Faith Connexion.
"This award means a lot to me as an emerging designer because it encourages me to keep developing my voice and to continue exploring fashion as a space for storytelling, collaboration, and meaningful design," Blanc noted.
Laura Prada received the Editorial Award from Brickell Magazine.
"My next step is to launch my own brand under Laura Prada, focused on creating meaningful clothing for the women around me—pieces that empower them in their performances, special events, and important moments in life," Prada said.
Milagros García took home the Miami Made Award from Miami Fashion Week, and Maryna Gorbachova received the Sustainability Award from the Upcycle Project.
"Sustainability is not just an aspect of my work—it is my guiding principle and the direction I want my career in fashion to take," Gorbachova stated. "This achievement gives me the confidence to speak more openly and knowledgeably about sustainable fashion and to demonstrate that sustainability and beauty can coexist in meaningful, innovative ways."
The runway show also debuted a digital capsule collection commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Students designed 10 virtual looks using CLO 3D software, building on a technical foundation established during a recent uniform design partnership between the college and Adidas.
As the only two-year fashion program at a public institution in South Florida, MFI offers associate degrees in design and merchandising. The curriculum focuses on preparing students for direct entry into the global fashion market or continuing education at four-year academic institutions. Prospective students can review enrollment details directly through the Miami Dade College academic portal.