MIAMI — May 8, 2026 — Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Fashion Institute (MFI), in collaboration with Miami Fashion Week, will present its annual graduate show at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the iconic Freedom Tower in downtown Miami. This invitation-only event will celebrate the next generation of fashion innovators. Working media are welcome.
The 2026 show will feature collections by a select group of standout graduating students from MFI’s fashion design program. Chosen by a distinguished panel of celebrated industry jurors — including Lourdes Fernandez-Velasco, executive managing director of Miami Fashion Week; Maria Buccellati of Faith Connexion; Naeem Khan, globally acclaimed fashion designer; and Danny Santiago, influential wardrobe stylist and costume designer — these emerging designers represent the highest level of creativity, craftsmanship and innovation. Their collections will come to life on the runway through a professionally produced show by Miami Fashion Week and Santiago.
“This show marks a defining moment for our students as they transition from the classroom into the global fashion industry,” said Oscar Lopez, chair of the Miami Fashion Institute. “Each collection reflects not only technical excellence, but a strong, individual point of view shaped by today’s cultural and creative landscape.”
This year’s program will feature special guest Ruben Toledo, an acclaimed designer and illustrator, who will serve as guest of honor and address the graduating class. Toledo, alongside Santiago, will also participate in student engagements throughout the week.
The evening will open with remarks and a special video presentation celebrating 10 years of the Miami Fashion Institute, highlighting the community and collaborators who have shaped its success. The runway show will be followed by an awards presentation recognizing excellence across key categories, presented by leading industry partners, including:
- The Retail Concept Award – Saks Fifth Avenue
- The Collaboration Award – Faith Connexion
- The Editorial Award – Brickell Magazine
- The Miami Made Award – Miami Fashion Week
- The Sustainability Award – Upcycle Project
In a special finale, the program will unveil a capsule collection commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, featuring 10 innovative looks created using CLO 3D, a fashion design software that simulates and renders digital garments in real time as a virtual prototyping tool. The segment was inspired by a recent initiative in the Apparel Evaluation and Production course, where students used CLO 3D to develop a uniform proposal for MDC’s Athletic Department. That project resulted in two student designs being selected for production through an official partnership with Adidas. While the uniforms are a separate endeavor, the technical excellence and professional rigor of that collaboration served as the creative foundation for this year’s anniversary showcase.
About the Miami Fashion Institute
The Miami Fashion Institute at MDC offers South Florida’s only two-year fashion program at a public institution, awarding associate degrees in fashion design and fashion merchandising. Designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry, MFI’s curriculum blends creativity, technical training and hands-on experience. Students also have the opportunity to continue their education at prestigious four-year institutions worldwide. To learn more, visit www.mdc.edu/fashion.
For more information about MFI’s graduate fashion show, contact Laura Neroulias, LORA PR, laura@lorapr.com and Oscar Lopez, MFI chair, at 305-237-7011, olopez7@mdc.edu.