Last night, ELLE and the Latin American Fashion Awards teamed up to celebrate the future of Latin American creatives, gathering in the heart of Milan during the city’s fashion week.

Editor-in-chief Nina Garcia joined Latin American Fashion Awards co-founders Constanza Cavalli Etro and Silvia Argüello to host a cocktail party at Da Giacomo Arengario. Guests, including Thássia Naves and Anna Dello Russo, took in breathtaking views of Milan’s famous Piazza del Duomo from the restaurant’s terrace while enjoying champagne and plenty of small bites. The Latin American Fashion Awards’ Model of the Year winner, Hiandra Martínez, and its Dominican Republic Local Star, Lineisy Montero, were among those in attendance throughout the night. A lively mariachi band infused the room with extra joy and spirit.

Co-host Garcia stressed the importance of the Latin American Fashion Awards coming to Milan, along with the great pride she feels being part of its mission. “As a Latina leading ELLE Magazine, it has always been my mission to open doors for Latin American talent,” she said. “When Constanza and Silvia approached me with this idea over two years ago, I knew the timing was perfect. I also knew that the Camera della Moda would support and appreciate the craftsmanship and cultural relevance of our culture. The Latin American Fashion Awards are the first major ceremony to recognize these incredible talents, voices that have needed to be celebrated in a big way for quite some time. I am so proud to support this event, and so inspired by the passion of Constanza and Silvia.”

Candela Pelizza with the party’s mariachi band.

The party is just one part of the Latin American Fashion Awards’ bigger footprint on Milan Fashion Week. The organization partnered with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana to host a collective exhibit at Fashion Hub Milano showcasing the work and stories of the biennial awards show’s first-year honorees.

From Thursday, September 19, through Sunday, September 22, the Latin American Fashion Awards also has its own pavilion in the WHITE Show, offering its winners the opportunity to show their collections to international buyers, media, and fashion industry professionals.

Those honorees include J Balvin (Latin Icon of the Year), Willy Chavarria (Designer of the Year), Luar (Brand of the Year), Daniela Villegas (Accessories Brand of the Year), Elliot & Erick (Emerging Fashion Photographer of the Year), Marcelo Gutierrez (Fashion Artist of the Year), Lineisy Montero (Dominican Republic Local Star), Verdi (Artisanal Project of the Year), Divina by Ode (Fashion Film of the Year), Karoline Vitto (Emerging Designer of the Year), Desserto and Ecocitex (Responsible Project of the Year), Camila Falquéz (Fashion Photographer of the Year), Hiandra Martínez (Model of the Year), and Zaya Guaraní (Fashion Influencer of the Year).

The second edition of the awards show will take place in November 2025.

Click through our gallery to see photos from inside the cocktail party:

Open Gallery

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Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.