Miami Fashion Institute

While Miami is drowning with beaches and palm trees, there’s not many fashion school options for those who are intrigued by the world of clothes and trends. Nicholas Huxley has partnered up with Miami Dade College in the creation of Miami Fashion Institute (MFI). MFI provides students with an education that will cost them less than Miami International University of Art & Design, which is the only other fashion school in Miami but with a much higher tuition. Huxley came to Coral Gables and spoke to our fashion designing classes about the school last week.

Huxley worked for many prominent fashion houses in Australia before starting to teach in 1979. In 1990, he became the head teacher at the Fashion Design Studio, he currently still holds this position. Huxley has received many honours and accolades in the fashion world. In 1989, he was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Costume Design for the film Sons of Steel and has been asked to be a part of the annual Jeans for Genes art auction for five consecutive years. Huxley has worked with many designers during his time and has been an impelling force in their entry into the fashion field. He is proud to say that he has personally dressed actresses like Nicole Kidman. He has also been nominated for the prestigious Fashion Laureate Award for 4 years. Additionally, Huxley has been named in the Sydney Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Sydney.

“The Miami Dade Fashion Institute shows great potential in their program. The enthusiasm and passion they showed gave me great joy to be part of a fashion class,” senior Arisay Veloz said.

Ingrid Rautemberg is the lead professor at MFI. Rautemberg is a graduate from the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London for a postgraduate degree in Fashion Design and MA in Fashion Futures. She was an intern for Alexander McQueen in 2010. In 2011, Rautemberg was part of the American Vogue Cover project, aiding to create the dress worn by Kate Moss in the cover. She is also the winner of the Kering Award Competition for Innovation in Fashion for Alexander McQueen.

Two paths will be available at MFI: fashion design and merchandising. The fashion design track develops skills that will provide the fashion industry with technical solutions through focused research, creative expression and practice. At the end of the program, it is expected for students to have a comprehensive portfolio reflecting their proficiency in a number of skills, as well as their personal creative ideas. The courses included for this path are Fashion Design one and two, Creative Design, Pattern Making, Apparel Evaluation and Production, Basic Clothing Construction Methods, Portfolio Collection Development and Digital Fashion Portfolio. The merchandising track provides students with the opportunity to learn and engage in the business practices of fashion retailing and merchandising while preparing them with the hardships of competitive sectors. The courses that will be provided for students include Principles of Contemporary Retailing, Product Development, Fashion Forecasting and Research, Fashion Merchandising Strategies, Textile, Apparel and Retail Analysis and Global Merchandising.

“Nicholas Huxley, the creator of the Miami Fashion Institute brought a fresh, jubilant vibe to the table through his presentation. Just from his personality, you could tell that he was ready to bring a great, cost-effective fashion industry to Miami-Dade,” sophomore Lauren Pettigrew said.

The new program will be located at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus in Downtown Miami. Miami Fashion Institute was made possible with the support of the Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation. The school will be opening its doors when the fall semester starts. This new school at Miami-Dade College will create new opportunities for students who are interested in joining the fashion industry.