Lopez Lens: Lourdes Fernandez-Velasco
Philanthropist and style leader MARILE LOPEZ talks to the director of Miami Fashion Week.
Glamour. Style. Vision. And couture. They are all synonymous with Miami Fashion Week, but there is so much more than Lights-Camera-Catwalk. Lourdes Fernandez-Velasco, the Executive Managing Director of MFW — six days of runway shows taking place throughout the city at venues such as Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Seaspice — has fashionably revolutionized Miami with the first global fashion week in Florida. Not only by creating its own content but also by generating a space to discuss sustainability and pioneering fashion into the Metaverse.
Through Miami Fashion Week, Miami has been established as the fifth city in the world to be part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s “Important Dates Calendar,” joining London, Milan, New York, and Paris. In fact, Miami is the first city to join the top four and enter this Calendar in over 65 years.
“The city deserves a prominent fashion event to showcase both local and international talent, given its status as one of the most vibrant cities globally,” says Fernandez-Velasco. “My hopes are to have Miami Fashion Week serve as a platform for nurturing and promoting emerging talent from the region.”
Miami Fashion Week actively supports and collaborate with major educational institutions in Miami-Dade County, including DASH, Miami Fashion Institute, Art Institute, Saint Thomas University, FIU, UM, and Istituto Marangoni. It initiated the Miami Fashion Week Sustainability Summit in 2017, in partnership with Miami Dade College and Knight Foundation. It is the first fashion week to voice sustainability in the industry, and throughout the years, has brought together experts, professionals, buyers, and students from all over the globe for Sustainable Fashion Talks. MIAFW focuses on technological, socioeconomic, environmental, innovative, and ethical challenges. Through Fernandez-Velasco’s leadership, Miami Fashion Week has gained recognition from media outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, New York Times, among others.
“We share a commitment to sustainability,” says Fernandez-Velasco, “with MIAFW hosting the inaugural Sustainable Fashion Summit in the country we provide a platform for Innovation by promoting diversity and by offering opportunities to both emerging local and international designers.”
Complementing the runway shows, are a series of informative panels that cover pertinent topics such as sustainability, technology’s role in fashion, entrepreneurship, and diversity. These panels are co-hosted by Fashion Group International and conducted at several Miami hotels. Mrs. Fernandez-Velasco has created a collaboration with several esteemed educational institutions in Miami-Dade County, including Miami-Dade College, Istituto Marangoni, Saint Thomas University and DASH, to participate in these enlightening discussions.
Fernandez-Velasco, meanwhile, was born in Asturias, northern Spain and was raised between Long Island, New York, and Spain. She studied International Business Administration abroad in both Paris and New York, where she started her career at The New York Times. Driven by her passion to create an ecosystem in Miami, and South Florida, she is determined to keep growing the platform to promote Miami’s growing talent and to also attract designers and artists from all over the globe.
Marile Lopez is the Chief Financial Officer at Jorge Luis Lopez Law Firm, a governmental affairs firm representing Municipal Governments, Florida 100 and Fortune 500 companies at the federal, state and local levels. As CFO, she manages the financial reporting, income taxes, account receivable, drafting of contracts, and investments for the firm. Prior to joining the firm in 2006, Mrs. Lopez founded and was creative director for Maria Elena Headpieces, a successful million dollar bridal accessory company which designs, manufactures, and sells products to high-end international wedding boutiques.
Mrs. Lopez also dedicates time to serve the community through leadership roles in a number of organizations. She is Chair of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s South Florida Executive Committee, whose initial focus is to host the 2020 Legends for Charity Dinner (NFL Super Bowl LIV). She is also Chair of FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs Dean’s Advisory Council, where she is leading her 2nd — multi-million dollar capital campaign as part of “Next Horizon: The Campaign for FIU”. She also serves on the board of Chapman Partnership, Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade, FIU President’s Council, and the American Red Cross. She has served as Chair of Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) Foundation, on the Board of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Miami Children’s Health System Board, as well as on the Board of American Cancer Society’s Miami-Dade Unit.
Marile Lopez and her husband, Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., are widely known for their philanthropic work in our South Florida community. They have received numerous awards for their exceeding dedication, including the 2017 Power Couple by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, 2015 American Red Cross Philanthropy Volunteer of the Year Award, the 2014 Charles “Bebe” Rebozo Humanitarian Award from the Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade, the 2013 James W. McLamore Volunteer of the Year Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Marile received in 2018 the MDC Parks Foundation in the Company of Women Award, the Take a Walk in her Shoes Award by Chapman Partnership, and the Woman of the Year Award by Miami Women Who Rock. In 2017, she received the Philanthropy Award by Fairchild Botanical Gardens, and in 2016, she was the recipient of Torch Award – Community Leadership Professional Achievement Award by Florida International University, the American Red Cross Spectrum Award, and the Women of Substance & Style Award by Buoniconti Fund. In 2015, Marile received the Woman of Distinction and Caring by Plaza Health Network, and in 2014, the Women of Faith with the Virtue of Charity Award from the Archdiocese of Miami, Mujeres Giving Back Treasure by The Woman’s Fund, Women Who Have Influenced the Community with Outstanding Charitable Causes by Neiman Marcus-Coral Gables, Miracle Maker by Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Hispanic Leadership Philanthropy Award by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Marile was also the recipient of the Inner Circle of 12 recognition from the American Cancer Society in 2013, and St. Jude Honors in 2012.
Mrs. Lopez received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from Florida International University, and Associate’s degree from Miami-Dade College.
Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., have five children: AR, Carli, Annia, Saramelia and Luis Jorge. They all reside in Coconut Grove, Flo
