Brown & BFyne
BFyne Designer Buki Ade (l)
I think it may have been two years back when I first laid eyes on the magnificent colors and patterns of BFyne swim and resort-wear. I had never seen anything of the like but, not being much of a beachgoer, I thought that may have been the reason. The more I became interested in women’s beach attire, the more I realized that, indeed, nothing even remotely similar to what BFyne produces existed. I needed to find the person (or persons) responsible for these magnificent articles of clothing and, one day, I found her.
Buki Ade arrived in the United States from Nigeria at eight years old, and by thirteen, had shown a propensity for design. It wasn’t until her college years, however, that she noticed the lack of diversity in swimwear and decided to create her own. BFyne was launched in 2013, and since then, their hand-crafted wares have become the stuff of legend. It’s not just the African-inspired colors that make the brand remarkable, but the very designs themselves. There is literally nothing like what BFyne produces anywhere on the face of the Earth.
This year at Miami Swim Week, BFyne was joined by Models of Color Matter (MOCM), an organization founded by Nicole Doswell, casting director, producer, and publicist at The Riviere Agency. Her organization is tasked with helping to boost diversity and equity in fashion and media. Through their partnership with BFyne, they brought together a wonderful array of stunning Black models. “I’ve done 100s of fashion shows across the globe in over 10 years of my modeling career and I have never had the amount of pride that I had being a part of the BFyne by Models of Color Matter show. This was my 1st ever fashion show that was produced by an all-black team that celebrated me! We were treated with dignity and class and the environment and energy of these beautiful powerful women is something I’ll always cherish…” said model Renee Bhagwandeen after the show.
The show opened with a video narrated by Buki Ade reciting her own love letter to Africa and an ode to real women with curves, textured hair, and melanin of all shades. When asked about the collection BFyne designer, Buki Ade, said: “There’s intentionality behind every aspect of each design...a movement with the black woman in mind.”
The collection unapologetically showcased all Black models featuring pieces from the brand’s ‘Safari’ collection inspired by the African sunrises. Textile prints were inspired by the designer’s passion for life and cultural experiences. As a Nigerian American, she is able to merge the richness of West African influences with the portraits that comprise scenes of her everyday living. The collection featured a mix of swim and resort wear in rich yellows, vibrant oranges, luxe tans and browns, greens, whites, and nuwave vibrant animal prints.
The show concluded with a parade of models showcasing hair, complexion, and size diversity. “We are committed to creating a safe space for models of color where they feel, seen, heard, and beautiful because they are, and we are so grateful for this amazing opportunity afforded to us by the great team at Paraiso Miami Beach,” said MOCM’s Nicole Doswell.