Flight of Fashion: Istituto Marangoni Miami’s ‘Volare’ Lights Up the Design District

In a city that thrives on the fusion of art, fashion, and innovation, few events feel as symbolic as Istituto Marangoni Miami’s annual fashion show. On May 16, the Palm Court in the Miami Design District transformed into a cultural runway for Volare—a stunning presentation that didn’t just spotlight the next generation of fashion talent, but also launched a life-changing scholarship initiative. At its core, Volare was about possibility, progress, and the freedom to take flight—both literally and creatively.

Set beneath the open sky and surrounded by the creative energy of the Design District, Volare delivered a showstopping display of final collections from IMM’s fashion design students. Eighteen emerging designers—including Chenqi Jiang, Daniel Uribe, Ilayda Polat, Nina Talpe, and Valery Luna—debuted work that embraced bold silhouettes, technical prowess, and global influences. A standout moment came courtesy of students Emilia Mourier, Mariana Jimenez, and Nina Talpe, whose creations sparkled with Swarovski embellishments—an elevated touch that didn’t go unnoticed.

But it was supermodel and IMM Advisory Board member Karolína Kurková who brought the house down. Closing the show with unmistakable elegance, she wore a custom look by student Ilayda Polat, styled with an extraordinary piece of fashion history: a vintage wig made in the 1920s by Antoni Cierplikowski—also known as “Antoine de Paris”—for none other than Josephine Baker. Carefully preserved for decades and never worn until now, the piece was generously loaned to IMM for the occasion by the Parodi Costume Collection, marking a moment where heritage and innovation walked side by side.

This year’s event wasn’t just about aesthetic ambition—it also marked the debut of a powerful new initiative: the IMM x Miami Design District Scholarship Fund. In partnership with the Design District, Istituto Marangoni Miami will award a full-tuition scholarship—valued at $162,300—to a graduating senior from Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH). The goal? To foster local talent and provide access to one of the top fashion design programs in the U.S.

Applications for the scholarship are now open on the IMM website, and 100% of ticket sales from this year’s show have gone directly toward funding the initiative.

Elevating the evening further was a live performance by the Miami Symphony Orchestra, whose rich arrangements added cinematic gravitas to the show. The live score—at once grand and intimate—set the tone for an experience that bridged fashion, performance, and artistic immersion.

And as attendees sipped and mingled under the palms, it became clear that Volare was more than a student showcase. It was a movement—one that celebrates Miami’s place as a rising global fashion capital and affirms the city’s commitment to nurturing emerging voices through both visibility and opportunity.

With each passing year, Volare further cements its role as a cornerstone of Miami’s creative calendar. It’s where legacy brands like Swarovski meet student ingenuity, where a runway becomes a launchpad, and where education and artistry come together with purpose.