FASHION - In a city fueled by reinvention, Eduardo Khawam’s journey reads like a screenplay — but it’s grounded in grit, faith, and relentless execution.
Born in Venezuela to parents of Greek and Syrian heritage and a third-generation Armenian family lineage, Khawam’s multicultural background shaped his global perspective early on. Today, he is known as a fashion expert, producer, and television personality appearing on Telemundo and KTLA, and as the Founder and President of Metropolitan Fashion Week and the Metropolitan Fashion Awards — one of the longest privately owned fashion week platforms on the West Coast.
But his story did not begin on a red carpet.
A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
In 2008, Eduardo was ready to walk away from his American dream. Financially stretched and emotionally exhausted, he went to a Seattle gym searching for clarity.
Instead, he ran into then-Senator Barack Obama, just months before the presidential election.
A brief exchange — simple, human, encouraging — reignited his determination. Khawam decided to stay in America and take one final risk.
With only $200 left, he launched what would become Metropolitan Fashion Week.
Building Metropolitan Fashion Week
Founded formally in 2011, Metropolitan Fashion Week has grown into a multi-city cultural platform with runway productions in:
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Las Vegas
- Palm Springs
- Caracas
- Mexico
- (With expansion plans including New York and Miami)
Unlike traditional fashion weeks staged in temporary tents, Metropolitan Fashion Week presents runway productions inside iconic architectural landmarks, transforming each venue into immersive storytelling environments.
The event celebrates avant-garde and couture designers, spotlighting more than 750 original “one-of-a-kind” creations from international fashion and costume designers. Khawam’s philosophy is clear: the venue is as important as the gown. Architecture becomes part of the narrative.
Past venues have included collaborations or productions at:
- Warner Bros. Studios
- Pasadena City Hall
- The Getty Museum
- Boeing
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum
His productions have merged fashion with film, aviation, historic architecture, and museum environments — redefining what a runway experience can be.
From Rejection to Collaboration: The Cirque du Soleil Chapter
In 2005, Khawam applied to join the creative team at Cirque du Soleil — a dream opportunity.
He was rejected.
For many, that would have been the end of the story.
Instead, he kept building.
By 2016, Metropolitan Fashion Week had grown into a significant cultural event on the West Coast. Then came the call — this time from Cirque du Soleil. They wanted to collaborate and perform at Metropolitan Fashion Week.
Not once. Three times.
Standing backstage, watching the same organization that once declined him now performing at his event, Khawam experienced what he describes as a full-circle moment — proof that resilience can transform rejection into partnership.
A Cultural Producer Beyond Fashion
For more than two decades, Eduardo has produced sporting events, theatrical productions, concerts, red carpet premieres, art exhibits, press conferences, green initiatives, private galas, and corporate activations.
His collaborations span entertainment, media, and fashion, including projects connected to:
- Steve Carell
- Nicole Kidman
- Tom Hanks
- Elton John
- Ricky Martin
- Three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill
His television presence as a fashion commentator has made him a familiar and articulate voice on style, red carpet analysis, and cultural trends.
Philanthropy as Core Mission
Beyond spectacle, Khawam has embedded philanthropy into his platform. His fundraising initiatives have generated more than $16 million for charitable organizations across the United States.
One notable example: a holiday tree featuring over 1,000 donated toys that raised $50,000 at the Providence O’Christmas Trees gala dinner and auction.
For Khawam, fashion is not simply aesthetic — it is a vehicle for community engagement and impact.
The Leadership Philosophy Behind the Brand
When asked what helped him build his reputation, Khawam’s answer is surprisingly simple:
- A fantastic team.
- Zero tolerance for drama.
- Respect for everyone.
In industries often driven by ego and volatility, his insistence on professionalism and mutual respect has helped establish Metropolitan Fashion Week as a stable, long-running cultural institution.
Why It Matters
In Los Angeles — a city defined by image, architecture, storytelling, and reinvention — Eduardo Khawam represents a new model of cultural entrepreneurship:
- Immersive production value
- Cross-industry collaboration
- Global perspective
- Philanthropic integration
- Relentless resilience
From a gym conversation to international runway productions, from rejection to collaboration, from $200 to a multi-city fashion platform — Eduardo Khawam’s journey is less about fashion alone and more about perseverance.
In a time when many give up at the first closed door, his story reminds us: sometimes the door opens later — and wider — than we ever imagined.
The Strategic Partner Behind the Vision: Paul Jaramillo
While Eduardo Khawam is the public-facing creative force of Metropolitan Fashion Week, his partner, Paul Jaramillo, plays a critical role in sustaining and expanding the organization’s success.
Every long-running cultural platform requires more than artistic vision. It demands operational discipline, strategic planning, financial oversight, and relationship management. Paul Jaramillo provides that structural backbone.
Producing fashion experiences inside landmark venues — from civic buildings to historic estates — requires:
- Complex venue negotiations
- Designer and talent coordination
- Sponsor and philanthropic partnerships
- Technical production logistics
- Media and broadcast alignment
- Multi-city expansion strategy
As Metropolitan Fashion Week expanded beyond Seattle into Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Mexico, Venezuela, and Spain, that growth required careful scaling. Paul’s leadership and business acumen have helped ensure that the platform remains not only creative but sustainable.
Those close to the organization often describe the partnership this way:
- Eduardo brings the storytelling, the cultural vision, and the on-air presence.
- Paul brings operational precision, stability, and long-term strategy.
In industries often driven by ego and volatility, their collaboration is grounded in professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence.
Cultural institutions that last more than a decade do not survive on creativity alone — they endure because of strong partnerships. Together, Eduardo Khawam and Paul Jaramillo have built Metropolitan Fashion Week into one of the longest-running privately owned fashion week platforms on the West Coast, proving that vision and structure, working hand-in-hand, can transform a $200 gamble into an international brand.
While producing fashion events all over the country, Eduardo Khawam and Paul Jaramillo now make their home in Palm Springs and are strong supporters of the valley.
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