Models Protest on the Runway During Art Basel:
Fademy Fashion Week Delivers a Powerful Message to the Industry
Miami, FL — December 2, 2025.
During one of the most active weeks of Miami’s artistic calendar, Fademy Fashion Week – Art Basel Edition captured the attention of both the public and the media by transforming its main runway into a silent yet powerful protest addressing the treatment of models and artists within the fashion and entertainment industries.
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opened with an audiovisual presentation that directly highlighted issues such as labor mistreatment, lack of payment, forced collaborations, and the systemic devaluation of creative work. The piece, created by Faddya Halabi, CEO of Fademy, and José “JONAV” Navarro, the event’s general producer, set the tone for an evening where fashion and activism walked side by side.
A Runway With Purpose
The first runway segment showcased collections by Otayma Zerpa, Gussy López, and Sammy Gicherman, each presenting proposals that merged high fashion with conceptual elements.
During the intermission, the spotlight was on a group of children from designer Gussy López. In addition to modeling, they created their own outfits and performed an artistic intervention by painting a mannequin live on stage—an act meant to highlight the idea that creativity begins in childhood.
Masculine Elegance and a Powerful Finale
The second half of the show began with the menswear collection by designer Gio Isaza, followed by a selection of gowns from designer Daniel Fábregas, with styling and makeup done by renowned artist Omar Sanz.
However, the most talked-about moment occurred at the end of the event: the models returned to the runway holding signs that read:
• “This is my dream job”
• “Don’t play with my dreams”
• “Art is work”
• “I don’t live off collaborations”
The gesture, welcomed with applause and recorded by nearly all attendees, aimed to shed light on the working conditions affecting modeling professionals in Miami and other cities across the country.
The organization emphasized that all participating models were compensated for their work, a policy Fademy states is a core part of its mission.
Public Figures Among the Guests
Notable attendees included:
• Aleska Génesis, international model
• Itza Castillo, Miss Universe Nicaragua
• Carlos Adyan, television host
• Antonio Vargas, Hispanic media representative
Executives, entrepreneurs, and art professionals also filled the venue, which reached full capacity during its simultaneous YouTube livestream.
Acknowledgment to the Sponsors
At the end of the evening, Faddya Halabi publicly thanked the sponsors who helped make the event possible:
LunaSol Wynwood, Fashion Emergency by Omar Sanz, Nova Auto, Coco Market, Mottoz, Your Accident Hero, and Dream House Mortgage.
“Without them, this message would not have traveled as far. Thank you for believing in fashion with purpose and in an industry that dignifies those who build it,” Halabi stated.
Fashion, Protest, and a Call for Reflection
With this edition, Fademy Fashion Week solidified a narrative uncommon in typical Art Basel runway shows: fashion that not only displays designs but demands respect, fair compensation, and value for models and artists.
The phrase that closed the night became the perfect summary of what unfolded:
“If the example doesn’t start at home, then where else will it come from?”
