MIAMI SWIM WEEK/TRADE SHOW FOCUS: DestinationMIami

MIAMI SWIM WEEK IS DEFINITELY A DESTINATION!

THE SWIM SCENE HAS BEEN GROWING IN MIAMI EVERY SEASON AND THERE IS A GOOD REASON WHY RETAILERS ARE DIVING HEAD FIRST INTO SWIMWEAR. THE GLOBAL SWIMWEAR MARKET IS SET TO GROW BY 6.2% TO $28 BILLION BY 2024, ACCORDING TO A REPORT PUBLISHED LAST YEAR BY ALLIED MARKET RESEARCH. GROWTH IS BEING DRIVEN BY DEMAND FOR FASHIONABLE, TREND-DRIVEN, STYLISH PRODUCT.

HILLARY JOSEPH, SR. EVENT DIRECTOR, COTERIE & DESTINATIONMIAMI

WE SPOKE WITH HILLARY JOSEPH, SENIOR EVENT DIRECTOR OF COTERIE & DESTINATIONmiami TO GET HER INSIGHT ON THE STATE OF THE SWIMWEAR INDUSTRY, WHICH BRANDS TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR, AND WHAT TRENDS ARE IN STORE!

SWC: This is UBM's 2nd's time coming to Miami but the first official DestinationMiami show. Is that correct? 

HJ: Yes correct! Last year, the company’s East Coast President, Danielle Licata spearheaded the Miami scene to take the first step into the market and really understand what was happening during that market week. It was consumer facing, but allowed the company to work with some resort brands they haven’t in the past.

 Fast forward 8 months, and I was hired by her to directly take over this market and create something new and meaningful based on my experience and connections – and so here we are, launching the B2B event in just a few weeks, DESTINATIONmiami.

SWC: What was the impetus to bring another trade show to Miami during Swim Week? 

HJ: To bring the one missing link into the market – a showroom environment that acts as an incubator space and true connector for young designers and contemporary collections who understand the importance of limited distribution and quality. DESTINATIONmiami will be the home where buyers and brands, alike, can work with our team to help find them everything they need to be successful.

Every global market week has its share of showrooms, on top of trade shows, on top of independent designer showcases, and so on but for the past few years, Miami has only really had formal trade shows - each of which have done a wonderful job of really focused on cultivating their proper market segments. But with that, there leaves very little room for designers who want something a bit more intimate and independent to pull away from the masses and have their stories told.

SWC: How is DestinationMiami different than the other Miami trade shows?

HJ: DESTINATIONmiami is about creating a showroom environment where each designer’s collections flow seamlessly, while still strengthening the voice and positioning of each brand in the market. It’s truly about creating a new business model where emerging designers and limited distributed collections can thrive. Resort is no longer just a “category” marketplace, it is just as strong as other main calendar deliveries, and small brands and premium designers need a venue that aligns with their values. 

SWC: Why do you think swimwear is such a popular market?

HJ: Because it’s no longer about what you wear to go swimming – it’s a fashion statement that is being captured all over social media. With the rise in spend on travel and experience comes a rise in spend on the product category as a whole; which is why Miami Swim Week has transformed into a true resort lifestyle week and no longer solely about swim.

DESTINATIONmiami
July 13 - 16, 2019
Faena Bazaar
3400 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
INDUSTRY ONLY EVENT