Paraiso Miami Swim Week, the organiser behind the long-running Miami swimwear showcase, has won a legal battle after an ongoing trademark dispute over the event’s name. But the conflict is far from over.
The dispute centres on who has the right to call their event “Miami Swim Week”. Paraiso’s parent company, Funkshion Productions, filed a case against DC Swim Week Group (DCSW), which has hosted a competing event under the same name.
Paraiso argued that DCSW had improperly registered the “Miami Swim Week” trademark. The company claimed that DCSW was misleading attendees by using similar branding and even promotional imagery allegedly lifted from Paraiso events.
Even now, if one searches ‘Miami Swim Week’ into Google, DC Swim Week is the first item to come up (which also describes itself as ‘Miami Swim Week’). Paraiso’s Miami Swim Week page (https://miamiswimweek.net/) is clearly fighting against this copycat page on its home page, as it brands itself as ‘Official Miami Swim Week (Paraiso)’.
In late March, the US Trademark Trial and Appeal Board sided with Funkshion. The ruling found that DCSW had “improperly registered” the trademark and that its use of the phrase contributed to confusion in the market.
Paraiso has not yet been granted ownership of the trademark. Their application remains pending – but this ruling strengthens their claim.
Funkshion said the decision was a key step in protecting the event’s reputation. “This ruling reaffirms Paraiso Miami Swim Week’s … commitment to protecting the swimwear industry and consumers from false associations,” said co-founder Natalija Dedic-Stojanovic. “Defending our intellectual property is not just about safeguarding our legacy, it’s about ensuring integrity in our industry.”
Conflict not over – DCSW fires back
But the legal fight is not over. DCSW has now filed a federal lawsuit against Funkshion, accusing it of trademark infringement and false representation. The company is seeking to overturn the appeal board’s decision and retain its current ownership of the registered trademark.
Paraiso’s show draws more than 10,000 attendees and hundreds of designers, press, buyers and influencers each year. According to the company, the event supports an $18.9bn global market and is a key sales and exposure platform for the “resortwear” sector.
With the 2025 edition running from 28 May to 1 June, Paraiso has just concluded a busy schedule of runway shows, buyer previews and influencer events.
“Miami Swim Week is an internationally recognised event,” said Aleksandar Stojanovic, co-founder of Funkshion. “This decision sends a strong message about protecting the hard work behind building a reputable platform and brand.”
For more information, visit https://miamiswimweek.net/
