SWFW 2015

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Fashion Week Hits the Beach

Photography by Romona Robbins

Once more, South Walton Fashion Week brought creativity and runway magic to Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach, Florida. The event, in its third year, was presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and Visit South Walton. VIE was privileged to sponsor the Sheila Goode Model of the Year Award, which honored the late photographer and friend of the community and was presented by her daughter, Hayley Green, and our publisher, Lisa Burwell. Our art director, Tracey Thomas, was also on hand to serve on the judges’ panel for the model competition.

This year, South Walton Fashion Week’s model competition awarded prizes to both a female and a male model, a first since SWFW’s inception in 2013. The talented winners were Miranda Abney of Slidell, Louisiana, and Xinbang “Simba” Tang of Troy, Alabama. Every model looked chic on the runway with expert hairstyling done by Vivo Spa Salon and makeup provided by Sephora.

The ever-exciting Emerging Designer competition brought in thirteen designers from around the country. After three nights packed with runway shows from local South Walton boutiques and stores, featured runway partners, and the immensely creative emerging designers, the judges came to a difficult decision. Tieler Garsaud of clothing line Tieler James was proclaimed the winner of the 2015 Emerging Designer competition, while menswear designer Richelle Valenzuela of Pasaporte received honorable mention.

: VIE Team at South Walton Fashion Week, left to right: Abigail Ryan, Tracey Thomas, Mary Jane Kirby, Jordan Staggs and Lisa Burwell

The winning models and designers will be showcased in a full photo shoot and story in VIE’s upcoming Culinary and Couture Issue next spring. Congratulations to all and thanks to SWFW and the Cultural Arts Alliance for allowing VIE to once again be part of this prestigious fashion event!