Swim Week comes to Miami, and these Black designers are turning heads

While Miami is widely known as a beach-body destination, the feeling will be in even more effect later this month during Miami Swim Week, as models descend upon the city to represent the over 100 brands planning to showcase their latest designs at the ten-day swimwear affair. Among the runway shows, private dinners, VIP events and sponsored metaverse content, some key Black designers stand out as stars to watch in the industry.

BFyne

When Buki Ade was a little girl, she ripped her jeans and upcycled her own clothes before the term ever became a marketing keyword. Watching two of her aunties sew every day and getting lost in the pages of her sketchbook planted seeds in her that would not bear fruit until after she had tried the traditional path of enrolling in nursing school. Once she decided to strike out on her own path, her creativity blossomed into the line of cutting-edge swimwear available from her line today. Featuring bright jewel tones, clever sartorial details, daring cut-outs and endless flair, the BFyne brand never stops iterating on itself and pushing for new possibilities in design.

Earlier this year, BFyne launched a partnership with VS&Co Labs, an online platform to help the Victoria’s Secret brand play a role in attracting attention to new designers. Fresh off the success of the collaboration, the BFyne brand is sure to keep making waves in Miami this month.

Onalaja

At play with fiery colors, enamored with deeply embedded animal motifs, passionately exploring the possibilities of tulle, and shamelessly African inspired, Nigerian-born designer Kanyinsola Onalaja is bringing a powerful punch to the table at this year’s Miami swim week where her brand Onalaja will collaborate with jewelry outfit Dayverse to put on a showcase of their newest offerings.

Onalaja is a brand based on a reimagining of African heritage through embellishment, larger than life patterning, intricacy and texture all designed for the cosmopolitan woman who appreciates making a bold yet refined statement in life. Onalaja’s presence at Miami Swim Week will mean crossing continents for the Lagos based designer, and customers are excited for the trip.

Haitian Doll by Jo Bella

Bright neon prints, statement gold fasteners and details and daring geometric cuts define the styles of Haitian Doll by Jo Bella. Pleased with the results of their Swim Week NY appearance, eponymous business owner Jo Bella prepares to show off a new collection of offerings that are flirty, fun, and festival inspired. Swimwear represents only one branch of the ambitious Haitian entrepreneur’s empire, which also features a jewelry line full of inventive, statement making pieces.

Despite not receiving the support of her family, the designer remains grateful for the customer loyalty she has received and the success she has seen so far.

This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 4:00 AM.