“tones of Text-tiles”
2025 marked the 15th biennial Cocktail Couture— IIDA North Florida’s signature fashion event!
This year’s runway show invited design teams to merge literary imagination with materials from the built environment. Inspired by characters and genres ranging from fantasy and mystery to sci-fi and classic literature, teams transformed everyday textiles into striking couture. It was a celebration of storytelling through fashion, where literature came to life on the runway.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating creativity, collaboration, and couture. Relive the magic and see this year’s winning looks on social @cocktailcouturenfl.
We’ll see you again in 2027!
award categories
The Fashion Show Awards celebrate excellence across categories, recognizing creativity, craftsmanship, innovation, and presentation. Honors include top overall design, thematic mastery, and audience favorites, showcasing the visionary talent of designers.
COUTURE EXCELLENCE
Hoefer Welker
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Micamy Design Studio
THEME MASTERY
Gresham Smith
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Group4 Design
MATERIAL ALCHEMY
Hota Design Studio
RUNWAY READY
Cole & Co. / RS&H
CONCEPT SKETCH
Perdue Office Interiors
Couture Excellence
Recognizes the best overall design, excelling across multiple judging criteria, with a cohesive presentation and high-fashion appeal. Awarded to the garment with the highest cumulative score across all judging categories, representing the pinnacle of design, craftsmanship, and presentation.People's Choice
Determined by audience votes via text, celebrating the garment and presentation that resonates most with the crowd.
Theme Mastery
Recognizes the garment that best embodies the assigned theme, incorporating both conceptual depth and alignment with the theme.Flawless Craftsmanship
Honors the garment with exceptional construction quality, tailoring, and attention to detail, showcasing advanced technical skill.Material Alchemy
Celebrates the most innovative and effective use of vendor-provided materials, emphasizing creativity and transformation.Runway Ready
Awarded to the garment that exudes elegance and sophistication, with a commanding presence on the runway.Concept SKETCH
Recognizes the most visually striking and innovative design sketch, highlighting artistic clarity and its connection to the final garment.
FASHION TEAMS
HOEFER WELKER | Shaw Contract + ASI Lighting
COUTURE EXCELLENCE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
MICAMY DESIGN STUDIO | MDC Interior Solutions + Milliken
THEME MASTERY
GRESHAM SMITH | MG Contract Resources + Momentum Textiles
flawless craftsmanship
GROUP4 DESIGN | Workscapes + MillerKnoll
material alchemy
HOTA DESIGN STUDIO | Sunon Global + Auld & White Constructors
COLE & CO DESIGN/RS&H | Humanscale + Crossville Studios
runway ready
PERDUE OFFICE INTERIORS | Koroseal + OFS Brands
concept sketch
the judges
TIM GILMORE
WRITER
Tim Gilmore is the author of The Wilderness and Willie Browne (2024) and 23 other books, including The Mad Atlas of Virginia King and Devil in the Baptist Church: Bob Gray’s Unholy Trinity. He’s the creator of jaxpsychogeo.com, a 12-year project (so far) that tells nearly 800 “true story portraits” of his hometown. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida and teaches writing at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where four of his plays have been staged. He writes regularly at timgilmore.substack.com. He writes about the haunted South and how the South haunts America.
WRITER
queen amina
Queen Amina is a Jacksonville-based multidisciplinary artist and creative visionary whose work spans photography, abstract art, design, and editorial illustration. Known for her unconventional and expressive approach to visual storytelling, she uses bold perspectives to blend the boundaries between fashion, art, and culture. Queen Amina brings a unique eye to every project, creating immersive, emotionally resonant experiences that challenge the norm and celebrate individuality.
Kevin Mierez-GALO
PROFESSIONAL RUNWAY MODEL
Kevin Mierez-Galo is a professional runway model signed to PoseWell Models for the past two years. With over 15 runway shows under his belt in just the last year and a half, Kevin has quickly made a name for himself in the fashion world.
He has graced catwalks all across the East Coast—from the vibrant energy of Miami for Florida Men's Fashion Week to the iconic runways of New York Fashion Week in the Big Apple.
Known for his edgy, bold look paired with a surprisingly sweet demeanor, Kevin brings a unique energy to every runway he steps on. His signature walk—so smooth it looks like he’s gliding—has become a standout feature that designers and audiences alike can’t help but notice.
Kevin is honored to serve as a judge for this year’s Cocktail Couture, bringing his experience, eye for style, and love for fashion to support a meaningful cause.
