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W Hotels Worldwide Takes Innovative Fashion Next Program Global
Maldives Promotion House – W Hotels Worldwide recently kicked off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center with the announcement of the Spring 2012 season of Fashion Next designers. The six designers, who specialize in a range of concepts from tailored menswear to reversible dresses, were introduced by newly appointed W Hotels Global Fashion Director, Jenné Lombardo, during a breakfast event at W New York.
Lombardo handpicked each of the six designers to join the third season of Fashion Next, the W Hotels fashion initiative that fosters and supports emerging designers. With Lombardo at the helm, Fashion Next, will for the first time in the program’s history, bring emerging fashion talent to a global audience.
As part of the initiative, W Hotels will host these six designers’ official presentations in the Box venue at Lincoln Center, and this season, W will now also support additional local fashion talent at fashion week events in London, Moscow, and Bangkok. Throughout the remainder of the year, all of the selected Fashion Next designers will have the opportunity to travel to W Hotels around the world and collaborate with the W brand on other W fashion and design projects worldwide.
“As W Hotels continues to expand globally, we have a great opportunity to provide a platform for supporting and showcasing what’s new and next in fashion,” Global Brand Leader for W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien, Eva Ziegler said. “We are taking the W Hotels Fashion Next program global for the first time, which now allows us to share our point of view on fashion with W guests and locals around the world.”
This season’s Fashion Next designers represent a wide variety of styles and influences, from cutting-edge digital prints to feminine pieces made with hand-dyed silks.
Bibhu Mohapatra
Bibhu Mohapatra showed an interest in fashion at an early age. In 1996, he moved to New York City to attend Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). He graduated one year later, having received the prestigious “Critic’s Award for Best Evening Wear Design.” He has now completed his seventh ready-to-wear collection under his namesake label, which features elegant designs inspired by the vibrant colors and fabrics found in his native country, India.
Nomia
Designer Yara Flinn is entering her third season with Nomia. The 29 year-old New York-based designer’s downtown style features sleek and slinky dresses, jumpsuits, and blouses made with fabrics such as stretch silk.
Juan Carlos Obando
Juan Carlos Obando taught himself about design when he started deconstructing vintage finds. In 2008, he began showing his work to the public following a private show with Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. His initial collection created such buzz that he garnered a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nomination. Based in Los Angeles, Juan Carlos is now a member of the CFDA.
Michael Angel
Since the debut of his collection, New York designer Michael Angel has continued to generate acclaim in the fashion and art worlds alike, garnering industry-wide attention for his pioneering use of digital prints. The blending of textures and colors create uniqueness in his pieces that reflect an undeniable energy.
Electric Feathers
Electric Feathers designer Leana Zuniga’s concept is to capture timelessness and versatility in contemporary designs. Her line features one-of-a-kind pieces that have more than meets the eye; most of her silk hand-dyed dresses and skirts are convertible or reversible.
Rochambeau
Rochambeau is comprised of three menswear designers – Michael Venker, Joshua Cooper, and Laurence Chandler. The line incorporates the designers’ love of design and their shared vision for unique men’s fashion.
For the first time in the W brand’s history, the Fashion Next program will this season be brought to a global level, with designer showcases at fashion weeks from New York City to London, Moscow, and Bangkok. In both London and Moscow, Global Fashion Director Jenné Lombardo has aligned herself with two internationally celebrated ‘Fashion Insiders’ to choose six up-and-coming designers, three from London and three from Moscow.
A film will also be shot by each Fashion Insider showcasing the W Hotels Fashion Next initiative along with the work of the three designers and interviews with Lombardo. The films will launch at the start of London’s Fashion Week in September and Moscow’s Fashion Week in October.
The Fashion Next initiative will then travel to ELLE Fashion Week in Bangkok, Thailand, one of the most prominent fashion events to take place in Asia today. Lombardo will work with ELLE Magazine Thailand to identify an emerging Thai designer to become part of W Hotels Fashion Next.
Times Square also celebrated the third annual Fashion’s Night Out with a photography exhibit titled, “Between Us, A Model’s Life,” an exclusive collection of photographs from Annemarieke van Drimmelen, the Dutch model turned fashion photographer. Hosted by W Hotels Global Fashion Director Jenné Lombardo along with Ivan Shaw, Vogue Photography Director and curator of the exhibition, jewelry designer Zani Gugelmann and van Drimmelen, the event will also include a pop-up bazaar, featuring products for sale from designer George Esquivel and Fashion Next designer Juan Carlos Obando. French duo sensation Miaou Mix will perform their world-renowned live DJ set.
Moreover, in celebration of this season’s Fashion Next designers, W Hotels is presenting an exclusive set from British singer/songwriter Katy B, taking place the night before her celebrated album, “On A Mission,” makes its US debut. The live performance will take place on Monday, September 12 in the Box venue at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center from 8pm to 10pm.
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SO/ Maldives introduces ‘Fight Fit’ wellness activation
On Saturday, 25 April 2026, SO/ Maldives will stage its “Fight Fit” island activation as part of the resort’s ongoing 120 Days Fitness Challenge, bringing together fitness, wellness and local collaboration in a resort-wide programme.
Developed in partnership with Fight Soul Maldives, a local fitness collective focused on combat sports, the activation is designed to offer guests both participation and live viewing experiences while also bringing a local element into the resort’s wellness programming.
A key part of the activation is the Muay Thai Guest Workshop, where guests will have the opportunity to train with fighters from Fight Soul Maldives. Open to different fitness levels, the sessions will introduce the basics of Muay Thai through drills, technique-based training and group activity.
The programme will extend across the island through a series of activities including sunrise yoga, beach combat training, aqua yoga accompanied by DJ music, and sunset fight showcases. According to the resort, the aim is to combine physical activity with the island setting through a range of structured wellness experiences.
The activation will also include a healthy menu developed to support fitness and balanced living, in line with the resort’s wider wellness focus.
Guests will also be invited to take part in a skincare workshop and ritual linked to the launch of products from Comfort Zone. The experience will introduce skincare practices based on science and sustainability as part of the broader wellness programme.
In the evening, the programme will continue with foam parties, fire dance performances, and live Muay Thai and kickboxing exhibitions featuring athletes from Fight Soul Maldives.
Through “Fight Fit”, SO/ Maldives is presenting a wellness-led island activation that combines fitness, lifestyle programming and collaboration with local talent.
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Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives introduces indoor mini golf experience
Resort experiences are increasingly shaped by the need for flexibility, with guests seeking activities that can be enjoyed beyond peak sun hours, creating a natural demand for engaging indoor spaces and particularly in tropical destinations where brief, seasonal rain showers are part of the island rhythm.
Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives builds on this evolving guest preference with the introduction of its new 8-hole Indoor Mini Golf Centre, adding a playful and interactive dimension to the island’s leisure offering. The space was officially unveiled at a recent opening, where a guest was invited to mark the occasion, setting the tone for an experience centred around shared enjoyment and light-hearted moments.

The indoor mini golf course offers a relaxed, air-conditioned space where guests of all ages can take part, whether as a casual game between families, a friendly challenge among couples, or a fun addition to group stays. It provides a comfortable alternative to outdoor activities while maintaining the sense of energy and connection that defines time on the island, regardless of the weather.
The addition builds on the resort’s existing indoor facilities, including billiards, table tennis, and a dedicated kids’ playroom, creating a more rounded leisure experience that caters to different moods and moments. Outdoors, guests can continue to explore a wide range of activities, from beach volleyball and futsal to badminton, diving, and both motorised and non-motorised water sports.

As one of the first resorts in the area to introduce an indoor mini golf experience, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives continues to evolve its offerings in line with how guests choose to travel today, blending activity, comfort, and shared experiences in a setting designed for both relaxation and discovery.
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COMO Maalifushi highlights uncrowded surf access across southern atolls
COMO Maalifushi presents a considered approach to surfing in the Maldives—one shaped by access, expertise, and the quiet privilege of space.
Located in the remote Thaa Atoll, the resort offers entry to a network of lesser-travelled breaks across the southern atolls, where consistent Indian Ocean swells meet uncrowded line-ups. Here, surfing unfolds without urgency—guided by natural rhythm rather than routine.
At the core of the experience is COMO Maalifushi’s long-standing partnership with Tropicsurf, daily sessions are shaped by real-time ocean conditions, with coaching that adapts intuitively to each guest—whether taking to the water for the first time or refining technique across more complex reef formations.
Guests are given access to a curated selection of breaks across Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll and Dhaalu Atoll—each offering a distinct character. From the long, forgiving rides of Farms to the more technical, fast-moving rights of ‘Machine’, the programme is designed to evolve with both conditions and capability.
“Surfing at COMO Maalifushi is defined by its sense of space and possibility,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director, COMO Maldives. “Our location allows access to some of the Maldives’ most consistent yet uncrowded waves, and through our partnership with Tropicsurf, we’re able to offer an experience that is both highly personalised and quietly exceptional—true to COMO’s way of doing things.”
The season, which runs from April through October, brings steady swells from the southern Indian Ocean. Yet beyond seasonality, it is the absence of crowds that defines the experience—allowing guests to engage with the ocean on their own terms.
Surfing at COMO Maalifushi sits naturally within the wider rhythm of the island. Time in the water is balanced with restorative treatments at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, unhurried dining, and the simplicity of island life—creating a sense of flow between activity and stillness.
Here, surfing is guided with care, framed by nature, and experienced without excess.
For more information, please visit the resort’s website.
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