Miami International Fashion Week™ is hosting the 3rd annual International Emerging Designer competition as organizers search the world for the best new designers to participate in the International Emerging Designers Showcase on opening night.

Categories will include women's wear and men's wear (both day and evening) to be reviewed for acceptance in the showcase.  The season is "Spring" and the rest is up to your own creativity.

The International Emerging Designers Showcase will take place March 18, 2010 at MIFW at Midtown in Miami's trendy Wynwood Art District. The show will be attended by local, national and international press, buyers, celebrities and VIP guests as your newest collections are presented to the world. One designer will be chosen as the "Best International Emerging Designer of the Year" in each category (men's wear and women's wear) and presented with an award at the closing Miami Moda & Music Awards® show on March 21, 2010.  The Judge's decision is final.

The winners will receive the following:

1. Name and photo included in the Hall of Fame on the official MIFW web site.

2. A cash prize presented by the Miami Fashion Week Foundation Scholarship Fund.

3. A one-hour mentoring session with Mercedes Gonzalez, President of Global Purchasing Group in NYC.

4. NEW Istituto Marangoni will provide a 2010 3-week Summer scholarship at one of the schools in either Milan, Paris or London.  The winner may choose to study either Fashion Design,  Image Consultant, Fashion Marketing or Visual Merchandising and will have the possibility to attend the course in English or Spanish.  The winner will receive the summer course and accommodation but is responsibile for travel and personal expenses during the course.  www.istitutomarangoni.com

 For designers to be eligible for participation in the competition, the following requirements must be met:

1. Designer must have been in business for a minimum of one (1) year but less than (5) years continually designing collections with a minimum of two (2) collections per year.

2. Designer must produce a minimum of ten (10) pieces per collection.

3. Designer must be selling garments in at least one store.

4. NEW Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2010. Finalists will be posted on the web site February 15, 2010.

If you meet the requirements, designers are requested to submit six (6) photos of actual garments (no sketches please) along with a description of the fabrics used and a biography in English by email to emergingdesigner@miamifashionweek.com.

About the Judges:

Mercedes Gonzalez, President of Global Purchasing Group, Mercedes has been a buyer in the garment industry since 1988 after graduating from New York University where she earned her degree in economics. She worked with one of the largest buying offices at the time, Frederick Atkins and participated in private label for such stores as Dillard’s and Harvey Nickels of England. In the last 20 years Mercedes has worked with some of the most important buying offices in the country and has helped to open or restructure hundreds of stores in the United States and abroad, including the inaugural Sears store in Panama. Regularly featured in industry publications, such as Women’s Wear Daily, Mercedes also teaches workshops on successful retailing at industry trade shows such as MAGIC and WSA and at regional markets in Atlanta, California and Dallas, and was an adjunct professor at N.Y.U. School of continuing education. She sits on the board of the Fashion Merchandising Department at the University of Arkansas and at the University of Nebraska. She is invited around the world from Chile to China to speak to retailers and manufacturers on entering the US market. She has been featured on the “Today Show”, as a retail expert has given presentations to the International Fashion Group, and has two award winning videos in the New York Public Library website on retailing. www.globalpurchasinggroup.com

Robin Fleming, with a degree in marketing and public relations from DePaul University, as a leading Stylist and President of La Casa Hermosa, Robin has created an international lifestyle brand based in South Florida. As the site of fashion magazine editorial layouts, specializing in custom pageant gowns, couture bridal looks, and special event dressing, Robin is a master in dealing with designer and high-end lables at both wholesale and retail levels as LCH selects only the best in each category and at every price point to represent. As a specialist in the world's top beauty pageants and special occasion dressing, Robin and La Casa Hermosa have been profiled in multiple industry publications, such as Savvy Magazine, Supermodels Unlimited, Four Points, The Beauty Insider, Wellington Magazine, Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Rox Television & Radio, the Today Show, the Travel Channel, You Tube, PNB.com, TFTJ.com, and Pageantry Magazine.   Robin is also President of the International Alliance of Speciality Fashion Retailers.  www.lacasahermosa.com

 Three (3) finalists in each category will be chosen to present four (4) outfits each in the showcase. All costs for the showcase including professional models will be paid by MIFW. Designers are responsible for all travel costs and the costs of producing the four (4) outfits. The finalists must provide shoes and accessories for the models. All designers submitting photos will be invited to attend the show and the trends, retail and business seminars hosted by MIFW during the event. All inquires should be emailed to info@miamifashionweek.com.

Thank you and Good Luck!

Beth Sobol, President