Lifestyle

Miami Strives To Become A Fashion Capital

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Miami is closer to finding out if it will become a fashion capital. A contingent from South Florida just returned from a mission to promote our area to the fashion industry.

If you've lived here long enough, you know Miami is no stranger to the runway and design, and local leaders are hoping to build upon that base to make South Florida more of a fashion capital.

"To develop basically an area where these brands can come have showrooms, warehouse, distribution, marketing offices," said Frank Nero of the Beacon Council.

Nero just returned from Milan, Florence and Paris. He was a part of a contingent of people from Miami pushing foreign fashionistas to set up shop here.

"There is a lot of interest in Milan and Italy, not just in fashion, but combining with food products and accessories, the whole creative industry that we think Miami can shine," said Nero.

"I'm pretty sure and pretty confident that some of the deals can be finalized within this year," said Diego Stecchi, of Salvatore Ferragamo.

Stecchi, went along on the sales trip, and was able to discuss the success his company found in South Florida.

"Ninety percent of our customers from Bal Harbour comes from Latin America," said Stecchi. "And we saw through the years an increase in our sales in Miami, generated from what we did in Latin America. So we saw there are good connections between the two actions you could say."

The Latin American market in Miami is a major selling point for businesses. along with the glitz and glamour of all the celebrities and VIP's that make this a destination.

But local leaders say it's not all about them. It's good for us too.

"At the end of the day it's always about jobs and tax revenues," said Nero. "But it's also raising the profile of Miami as this international city that's again more than just any one industry."

And they tell us in December they will be hosting a group of Italian high end fashion designers who want to visit and see what Miami has to offer.

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