With the sun blazing and creativity flowing, the annual Swim Up Cycle Challenge returned to Miami Swim Week.
Last week, Sharpie Creative Markers partnered with the annual Swim Up Cycle Challenge in collaboration with Istituto Marangoni at the Miami School of Fashion and Design for day two of Sharpie’s sponsorship of Paraiso’s twentieth anniversary of Miami Swim Week.
Gina Lazaro, vice president of brand management for Sharpie’s parent company, Newell Brands, stated that the purpose of this event was to, “create opportunities for young creative talent, support sustainability for the future of fashion, and encourage creativity and self-expression through our ‘World is Your Canvas’ campaign in celebration of the launch of Sharpie® Creative Markers.”
Designers from the Miami School of Fashion and Design were tasked with reimagining sustainability by sketching their designs on swimwear accessories using the new multi-surface Sharpie Creative Markers and finishing their masterpieces with donated deadstock fabric. Five finalists were invited to showcase their work on the runway. The eye-catching looks dominated the catwalk with bright summery swimwear and creative accessories.
These five designs and designers were then put to the test with some Q&As about what inspires them and more about their experiences. The judges consisted of Gina Lazaro, Ivy Heilman, senior buyer for intimates, swim, and active at Anthropologie; Keili Leahy, senior buyer at Urban Outfitters; and Madison Rexroat from Elle magazine.
After some deliberation, the judges named Rotem Bensaadon as the 2024 Swim Up Cycle Challenge winner. Rotem is a graduating student at Istituto Marangoni at the Miami School of Fashion and Design and showcased two custom-designed bikini looks made entirely from recycled materials. To accent the swimwear runway styles, Rotem created two clutch purses from recycled cans, spray-painted in silver metallic, then hand-drew prints using the new Sharpie Creative Markers’ paint-like, no-bleed ink in colors that pop on light and dark surfaces. Congratulations to this talented winner and to all the amazing designers! Catch more of Rotem’s work on their page, Repurpose It Project.
