Metropolitan Fashion Week announced winners of its METROPOLITAN FASHION AWARDS last night honoring outstanding achievements in fashion and costume design in motion pictures, television, and live performance during the 5th Annual Metropolitan Fashion Week’s Closing Gala & Fashion Awards at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center. The event, hosted by Metropolitan Fashion Week producer EDUARDO KHAWAM, was attended by over 1200 industry VIP’s, celebrities, costume and fashion designers. Award presenters included former Miss Universe and star of Telemundo’s La Gran Oportunidad, ALICIA MACHADO;Shades of Blue actor ANTONIO JARAMILLO; GRAMMY®-Awards Winners Earth, Wind & Fire members VERDINE WHITE and RALPH JOHNSON; Telemundo’s STEPHANIE HIMONIDIS “Chiquibaby” (of Acceso Total); actor/singer ROBERT AVELLANET of the International group Menudo;Honey Cone’s SHELLY CLARK, among others. A special exclusive live performance by Luzia by Cirque du Soleil entertained the audience. In addition to the Awards, the Gala showcaseda unique, exclusive runway show featuring over 150 one-of-a-kind avant-garde costumes and couture evening gowns, created by national and international celebrity costume and fashion designers including: Fashion Designer BENITO SANTOS (Mexico); Fashion Designer MARIKA SODERLUND ROBISON (Sweden); Fashion Designer BARBARA L ASHLEY (Uganda); Fashion Designer ERICK BENDANA (Nicaragua); Fashion Designer DOUGLAS TAPIA (Venezuela); Fashion Designer EMIL GAMPE (Austria); Fashion Designer CARL ANDRADA (Philippines); Fashion Designer DAVID SANTILLANES (San Diego, CA); Fashion Designer INOE VARGAS (Mexico); Costume Designer RICARDO SOLTERO; Fashion Designer FERNANDA PINHEIRO OF GIOVANNI TESTI (Brazil); Fashion Designer DAVID TUPAZ (Las Vegas, NV); Fashion Designer JULIE DANFORTH (Seattle, WA); Fashion Designer JOEY GALON (Los Angeles, CA); Fashion Designer RITA MEZRAHI (Iran-USA); Fashion Designers SHELLI BLACKNELL & TANISHA BOSTON (USA); Fashion Designer XAVIER OTHON (Mexico); and Couture Hat Designer ARTURO RIOS (Mexico). The show is produced and directed by Eduardo Khawam, fashion expert, producer and TV personality for Telemundo, Univisión and the CW and Executive Producer...... Read more on Full Issue!