Models parade down runway sporting nothing however TAPE at Miami Swim Week
A group of stunning models made quite the splash at Miami Swim Week this weekend – although ironically the buzz about their appearance was less to do with what they were wearing, and more to do with what they weren’t.
On Sunday, scantily-clad catwalkers hit the runway for the Black Tape Project’s show wearing nothing but some teeny tiny pieces of tape, which left very little to the imagination, and sparked a firestorm of debate from spectators.
The bondage-esque ensembles were mostly made of black tape, but some were metallic, showing off almost everything on the runway.
And that wasn’t the only unique aspect of the runway show, which also saw models breakdancing and even performing headstands in their unmovable outfits – while others even got taped up onstage as part of a wild live performance.
However, not everyone was praising the outlandish designs, as some commenters asked how they could be considered fashion and others said they weren’t safe to wear outside.
A model hit the runway for The Black Tape Project fashion show in sky high heels and almost no bikini bottom during the Miami Swim Week on June 2
Designer Drakhan Blackhart applied tape in real time on a model on the runway while some of the models performed
Despite the ‘black tape’ name, some models strutted down the runway in metallic versions of the body tape, which is said to be safe to wear
This wasn’t a regular fashion show – instead, models breakdanced and even did headstands in their unmovable outfits
The Black Tape Project was founded by Joel Álvarez, also known as Drakhan Blackhart to his 894,000 Instagram followers, who calls himself ‘the world’s only body tape expert.’
The Cuban American designer once lived out of his car and now regularly has encounters with A-listers as he shows his designs all across the country at different swim weeks.
Drakhan has worked with Michael Bay, Rick Ross, Billy Ray Cyrus, and DJs like Afrojack, showcasing his scandalous, rave-ready wares at EDC Vegas, Ultra Miami and more since 2014.
The Miami Swim Week Instagram account has yet to share photos of these specifically scantily-clad models, and is instead focusing on its sustainability mission and more mainstream events, like the Sports Illustrated show, where influencers like Alix Earle, Lele Pons, and Xandra walked.
And not everyone approved of the wild taped bikinis, which left very little to the imagination.
After the Black Tape Project Instagram account promoted the Miami show, one commenter snarked, ‘Yeah there’s no fashion at all… where is the fashion…nakedness???’
The comment sparked a conversation about the illicit outfits.
One person defended the creations as ‘beautiful body artistry,’ as another hit back by writing, ‘Yeah this isn’t fashion.’
The Black Tape Project was founded by Joel Álvarez, also known as Drakhan Blackhart to his 894,000 Instagram followers, who calls himself ‘the world’s only body tape expert’
The Cuban American designer once lived out of his car and now regularly has encounters with A-listers and shows his wacky designs all across the country at different swim weeks
After the Black Tape Project Instagram account promoted the Miami show, one commenter snarked, ‘Yeah there’s no fashion at all… where is the fashion…nakedness???’
Not everyone approved of the wild taped bikinis, which left very little to the imagination and looked almost impossible to get out of
The critic continued, ‘Fashion is different clothing you can wear at public spaces with anybody around including children.
‘Those outfits are definitely not public friendly.
‘Imagine all the parents that would be covering their kids’ eyes if girls were wearing this outfits outside.’
Another remarked, ‘Fashion show? Srsly? Its just bunch of ppl watching almost naked girls.’
Others simply had practical questions, like ‘How do you go to the bathroom in that?’
One critic wrote on Instagram, ‘Fashion is different clothing you can wear at public spaces with anybody around including children.’
Another Instagram critic asked, ‘Fashion show? Srsly? Its just bunch of ppl watching almost naked girls’
The outrageous duct-tape inspired bikinis also made a splash during Miami Swim Week in 2023, with critics disappointed in the lack of body diversity onstage – and this year was similar
Previous commenters compared it to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which was canceled for its lack of diversity
The outrageous duct-tape inspired bikinis also made a splash during Miami Swim Week in 2023, with critics disappointed in the lack of body diversity, and this year, it didn’t look like many plus size models took the stage.
Previous commenters compared it to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which was canceled for its lack of diversity – although it’s making a comeback this year after a four-year hiatus.
The 2023 event was also deemed ‘trashy’ by industry insiders, with one person telling The Daily Telegraph, ‘There’s no doubt designs have been getting racier and racier each year, but the images coming out of Miami Swim this week are boarding on comical.’
‘One, there’s no way anyone is going to wear those designs and two it’s made a mockery of the event which was once considered the world’s biggest swimwear show and used to be quite prestigious,’ they continued.
While people might not be rushing to wear the designs, the tape is available online in various colorways.
