OSCAR LÓPEZ is chair of the fashion department at Miami Fashion Institute. Previously at Miami International University of Art & Design, he led the charge in aligning fashion curricula for eight campuses, developing the Fashion Merchandising Global program, which emphasized sustainability and technology, the focus of pioneering courses including Sustainable Textiles and 3D Fashion Design. López fostered valuable industry relationships on both local and national fronts, collaborating with organizations such as Miami Fashion Week, FashInnovation, Paraiso Swim Week, New York Fashion Week, and Fashion Group International. His dedication to education and talent development has earned him recognition, including as a former regional director and current district director for Fashion Group International (FGI), where he oversees South Florida, Chicago, and St. Louis. His leadership led FGI South Florida to be awarded the National Programming Merit Award in 2019. Prior to his career in academia, López was the national talent acquisition and planning manager for Saks Fifth Avenue’s corporate office. He completed his second master’s degree, in fashion management, at Parsons School of Design.
