DC Swim Week, dubbed by The Washington Times as “The hottest fashion show of the year,” has just wrapped up its whirlwind presentation of beautiful models, international swimwear designers, celebrity appearances, live music and performance art – at exciting venues all across a city not normally known as being fashion-friendly.
Starting with a Press and VIP Reception Wednesday night July 20th at the Cafe Milano in Georgetown, and running for three more nights at The L2 Lounge in Georgetown, the Penthouse Pool and Lounge in Southwest DC and wrapping up with a Grand Finale in the ballroom of The Embassy Row Hotel in Northwest, DC Swim Week produced four sold-out nights of fashion, fun and excitement.
“We are trying to make a change in DC, which has such a big international potential,” stated Oliwia Garaj, Vice President and Programming Director for DC Swim Week. “We want to work on DC’s image, make it more approachable and change its white collar city perspective into a new Capital City of Fashion.”
To that end, the event attracted over 20 international and domestic swimwear designers including Parisian designer Banana Moon, Polish fashion house Karo Swimwear and Brazil’s Agua de Coco.
“The event was beautifully orchestrated and something that, as a designer, I was nothing but honored to be a part of,” stated Stephanie Meni of Bandits Swimwear, based just outside of DC in Potomac, Maryland.
Other participating domestic designers included Miami’s Vizcaya Swimwear (the official swimsuit sponsor for the 2016 Miss USA Pageant), Universal Gear and Koko D.
“What a fabulous show and more importantly what a fabulous group of professionals,” said makeup artist Azin of Muse Studios. “(DC Swim Week has) an amazing vision and this is only the beginning.”
But it wasn’t only world-renowned designers who chose to participate. Two international fashion models, Mariia Baziuk and Kateryna Horbei, made a special trip down from New York City to appear at DC Swim Week’s Grand Finale Saturday night July 23rd in Northwest.
“I could not be more pleased with the way our city has embraced this event,” stated DC Swim Week Founder and Creative Director Moh Ducis. “Four sold-out nights speak to the popular appeal of these fashion shows among DCs young urban professionals. But having Mariia Baziuk and Kateryna Horbei choose to be a part of our event? I could not be more honored.”
“DC Swim Week is transforming the way fashion events have been done in the past,” added DCSW Chairman Sean Rashid. “By combining local and international designers with professional international models, we continue raising the bar for DC Swim week to match the events of New York and Miami.”
Celebrity appearances included Emmy-winning actor Vincent De Paul, Shervin Rooparvar, of Bravo TV’s “The Shahs of Sunset” and Saturday night’s entertainer Born I Music.
“With all of this momentum, we are already hard at work planning DC Swim Week 2017,” stated Programming Director Oliwia Garaj. “We’re going to keep the buzz going all year long!”
Hundreds of photos are available from a variety of photographers who covered the event. Links to the albums of three of those photographers are listed below. Please be sure to CREDIT any photos used.
DC Swim Week Photo Album Links:
VITHAYA PHONGSAVAN
Album 1
SAROSH PHOTOGRAPHY
Album 1
Album 2
DUANE HEATON
Album 1