The Fashion Spot

In its fifth season, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim is hosting more shows than ever. Taking place in Miami from July 15th through the 19th, the shows will take place at Miami Beach's historic hotel The Raleigh which offers multiple venues - the Cabaña Grande, the Beachway and the Oasis - in addition to The Raleigh's Penthouse event space.

This season, new specialty retailers and designers debuting collections at the IMG produced event include L*Space by Monica, Bohéme Boutiques, Caffé Swimwear, Marysia Swim, Crystal Jin, Aqua Di Lara, Tori Praver Swimwear, Mara Hoffman, White Sands Australia, Vitamin A, and V Del Sol.

Swim week will begin with a poolside show by Bohéme Boutiques and an official kick-off party on July 15th, followed by four consecutive days of shows and presentations.

IMG has released points of inspirations for a few of the designers. See below for a taste of what's to come!

L*Space by Monica Wise, this season's Mercedes-Benz Presents designer, is constantly in demand by Hollywood's hippest stars. Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba and the covers of dozens of magazines across the globe have featured Monica Wise's delectable bikinis in stunning fabrics. Her fit cannot be beat in gorgeous mix-and-match prints and solids.

Bohéme Boutiques offers a way to step into Bohemia. With designer swimwear, cover ups and accessories, they are the only Key Biscayne boutique to carry Pucci, Catherine Malandrino and Missoni Sport.

Caffé Swimwear designer Paula Saavedra combines deep passion and her South American roots with current fashion trends, and produces swimwear with an exotic flare. She has elevated the bathing suit to high fashion status with chic, sexy and undeniable stylish swimwear for women.

Marysia Swim's Maria Dobrzanska Reeves started her line after attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. A former ballerina, she debuted her swimwear collection in the summer of 2008, with the same precision and disciplinary skills she used in dancing.

Crystal Jin Eley attended Parson's The New School for Design and chose to launch a swimwear line for two reasons, necessity and her outdoor roots. She never could find styles, colors and fabrics which matched with her personal taste, and as a result has created her luxurious Crystal Jin swimwear line.

Aqua Di Lara's award-winning designer Reyhan Sofraci unveiled edgy and original high-fashion styles unlike anything seen before in the high-end swimwear industry in 2005. The line was created to satisfy the demands of his fashion conscious clientele. He combines aesthetic beauty, unique styles and comfort and quality.

Tori Praver Swimwear's designer, Tori Praver grew up in Hawaii and began her modeling career when she was discovered at 13. Her active lifestyle of yoga, surfing and traveling, has served as inspiration for her collection, which makes women feel comfortable, confident, and sexy.

Mara Hoffman, an alumnus from Parsons School of Design, has designed collections which feature hand-dyed fabrics and original silk prints. Her inspiration comes from nature, her world travels and her fantasies.

White Sands Australia is an edgy new contemporary swimwear and resort wear line by designer Leah Madden. The collection, glamorous with an eye to fashion, also throws a nod to the carefree Australian lifestyle.

Vitamin A designer Amahilia Stevens, an Art Center College of Design alum, combines her California roots and her background in fine art with her global, jet setting perspective. Amahilia's bikinis are a personal obsession.

V Del Sol's creative director and co-founder Veronique de la Cruz feels that true beauty is a state of mind, and it shines from the inside out. From the beaches of Guadeloupe where she designed her own bathing suits as a little girl, her collection offers sexy, soft swimwear with silky support, making women feel and look great.

Images courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.