Model walks the runway wearing Luli Fama swimwear collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim show in Miami (Photo : Reuters)

Miami Beach gets ready for a week filled with fun, cars and fashion as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim kicks off today.

Already established as a hub for hot fashion, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim Week is bigger than ever this year with the city expecting thousands flocking here for a week of fashion and fun in the sun.

The Miami Beach Convention Center will house the 2013 Swim Show funded in part by the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). Swim Show is the largest swimwear tradeshow in the world featuring nearly 2,000 brands who will offer a sneak peak of the latest styles for the coming season.

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"It's only natural that Miami Beach would serve as the swimwear industry's fashion destination," says Grisette Marcos, Executive Director of the MBVCA.

"Miami Beach's year round warm weather and influx of international designers makes it the ideal place to catch a glimpse of the most current swimwear styles," she added. The show runs from July 21-24 and is expected to draw around 9,500 attendees.

The five-day Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim event will see an all-time high number of designers showcasing their newest collections, the hottest parties happening each evening and a cooler-than-ever audience of top celebrities, fashion icons and industry executives in attendance.

Miami Beach's week of swimwear events kicks off on July 19 with several opening parties. Soho Beach House will kick off Miami Swim Week with a Trina Turk BBQ and Style Saves Runway show at 9:00 PM.

The Raleigh will host the opening night event for Fashion Week Swim from 8-12pm. Over the course of the week, more than 30 designers including Aqua Di Lara, Beach Bunny Swimwear, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Diesel, Kooey Australia, LUXEBy Lisa Vogel, Mara Hoffman Swim, Norma Kamali Swimwear, True Religion Swimwear and Zingara will send the hottest models in town down the runways.

Friday night is for fun at the Salon Allure Opening Party at the W South Beach, where a mix of designers, celebrities and leading industry executives will get a first look at more than 50 designer swimwear and resort lines for 2012 over cocktails, live music and special performances. Fashion fans looking to strut their stuff and see cutting-edge swimwear designs can head to HIGHBAR on Sunday, July 22 for the Icon Pool Party.