From November 2–4, 2025, the Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS) returned to the Miami Design District for its most powerful edition yet. Hosted at the iconic Moore Building, the female-led summit—founded by Estefanía Lacayo and Samantha Tams—brought together designers, founders, retailers, editors, and industry leaders for three transformative days of curated programming, strategic networking, and global visibility.
LAFS 2025 explored the future of fashion through the lenses of cross-border retail, artificial intelligence, sustainability, wellness, and brand storytelling, with speakers from Moda Operandi, Shopbop, Revolve, Nordstrom, The Webster, and Kering, alongside emerging and established Latin American talent.
Program Highlights
This year’s agenda was designed to spark dialogue and drive innovation across the fashion ecosystem. Key sessions included:
- Monetize Your Influence with Tiffany Lopinsky of ShopMy, offering tools for creators to build revenue streams.
- Building the Dream Brand, a conversation between April Henning (President, Moda Operandi) and designer Jonathan Simkhai, exploring brand vision and scalability.
- Rethinking Leadership with Eva Hughes, focusing on conscious leadership in fashion.
- The Legacy of Naeem Khan, a tribute to craftsmanship and cultural storytelling.
- A keynote-style discussion with Craig Robins (Dacra) on the future of creative districts and brand ecosystems.
These sessions reflected LAFS’s commitment to education, empowerment, and cross-sector collaboration, positioning Latin American fashion as a force within the global creative economy.
Pitch to LAFS: Celebrating Emerging Voices
One of the summit’s most anticipated moments was the Pitch to LAFS competition, where emerging brands presented their concepts to a panel of top industry executives. This year’s winners reflect the creative depth and cultural richness of the region:
- Designer of the Year: Weise (Bolivia)
- Accessories Designer of the Year: La Torres (Argentina)
- Social Impact Project of the Year: Supernaturae (Mexico)
Each winner received a $10,000 grant, mentorship, a booth at Coterie, a trunk show with Moda Operandi, and a premium package with ShopMy—marking a pivotal moment in their brand journeys.
LAFS Pop-Up: Direct Access to Latin Design
The LAFS Pop-Up, open to the public, showcased over 35 Latin American brands, including Hijas de Puka, Port de Bras, Studio Conchita, Renata Lozano, Pampa, and the three award-winning labels, offering direct access to consumers and buyers.
With its unwavering commitment to empowering artisans, elevating sustainable practices, and amplifying Latin voices, LAFS continues to redefine the global fashion conversation. As Estefanía Lacayo shared, “This year reminded us of the power of community—what happens when we bring people together with intention.”
