Miami Schmatta Free Public Film Screening

A new documentary, Miami Schmatta: Immigrant Garment Makers, Designers and the Unraveling of Florida’s Most Fashionable Industry, will take audiences on a deep dive into the rich history of Miami’s once-thriving garment district. Featuring rare archival footage and firsthand accounts from first- and second-generation immigrant factory owners, workers, and tailors, the film chronicles the industry’s evolution from its early days in Wynwood during the 1960s to its decline in the 1990s due to foreign competition and trade agreements.

‘Schmatta,‘ yiddish term for rags, and ‘Garmentos,’ Spanish slang for ‘garment workers,’ were common terms for a Miami industry spanning forty years in the Wynwood neighborhood, supporting families escaping civil and world wars, communist and fascist regimes of Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Middle East, Caribbean and South America.

Despite fierce global competition, remnants of the golden years of the ‘Schmatta’ business still remain. Several women and men expanded businesses through the mastery of the uniquely hands-on intensive work of sewing and tailoring clothing. Third generation companies are creating their own lines, responding to a casual sportswear culture, thriving local brands, and cultivating couture for Miami’s elite social scene.

Fort Lauderdale’s historical Las Olas district has a connection to Wynwood’s Schmatta businesses through venerable men’s clothing retail and tailor shops. For example, the film chronicles how Moda Mario tailors mentored a young female entrepreneur whose Little River studio now generates corporate uniforms and speciality items for Florida and national customers.

This special screening is co-presented by the Miami Jewish Film Festival and will take place on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the historical Vinnette Carroll Theater aka Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale (503 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301). The free event will also feature a compelling panel discussion with Miami historian Dr. Paul George, Yiddish cultural archivist and award-winning actor Avi Hoffman, prominent garment makers and designers with film directors Clare Vickery and Aaron Glickman.

# Event Schedule:

📍 Location: Savor Theater, Fort Lauderdale
🕡 6:30 PM — Doors Open
🗣 7:00 PM — Panel Discussion
🎥 7:30 PM — Film Screening
❓ 8:30 PM — Q&A Session
🎤 9:00 PM — Closing Remarks

Dr. George, a historian for HistoryMiami, will discuss Wynwood’s early development as a working-class neighborhood and its transformation into a major garment hub. Hoffman will explore the Yiddish roots of the term “schmatta” and its connection to Miami’s diverse immigrant community. The discussion will also highlight key moments in Miami’s fashion evolution, including the influence of brands like Cover Girl Miami, the rise of sportswear, and the impact of legendary designer Gianni Versace.