A new “duct tape bikini” brand just made its runway debut – and it’s skimpier than ever.
The controversial swimwear trend exploded onto the fashion scene when The Black Tape Project appeared at New York Fashion Week in 2018.
Fast-forward five years, and now there’s a new sticky-tape fashion brand on the block, Miami Art Body Tape.
Its founder, Andrei Stamate, held the tape brand’s first-ever catwalk show during a recent industry swimwear event, the precursor to Miami Swim Week in July.
Model’s clad in the clingy designs walked the runway in their barely-there outfits, with photos showing the revealing nature of duct tape bikinis having been taken up a notch.
One woman paraded down with just an “X” shape of gold metallic tape across her body, which strategically covered the necessary parts to prevent the outfit from being indecent.
Across the back of the design were “G-string” style bottoms, which put her booty on full display.
Another model wore an equally as raunchy design, hand applied by Stamate, which featured tape across her nether regions and bust.
While a third rocked a one-piece style, posing seductively over her shoulder in the ensemble at the end of the runway.
Models later took to social media to praise the brand, stating it was “an honor” to take part in the risque performance.
“It looks insane,” one declared in the comments.
“So sexy,” another added.
It’s not clear exactly when Miami Art Body Tape launched, but Stamate’s first post featuring his minuscule designs on the brand’s blossoming Instagram page is dated February 2020.
The US-based artist previously explained his inspiration for each duct tape cossie comes from the model, revealing he creates a design based on their personality and body type.
He also gave insight into how difficult the tape was to remove, a long-speculated detail.
“The body tape is easy to come off, it doesn’t hurt them and it’s easier to come off then put on,” he told a British newspaper in March.
“It sticks very well but if the models sweat it could come off.”
Stamate also explained the black tape has a better grip than the metallic stuff which he described as “sensitive.”
The new brand’s biggest competitor, the Black Tape Project, announced its departure from the industry in February – but appears to have since backtracked on that statement.
Black Tape Project’s creator and self-proclaimed body tape “pioneer” Joel Alvarez said its 2023 New York Fashion Week show was its “final.”
“Today is the day. My final performance. Started in NYFW and it ends in NYFW. Full circle and the new guy is straight brutal,” he wrote on Instagram in February.
However Black Tape Project has since made numerous catwalk appearances around the world – and most recently dropped its Miami Swim Week dates.
He later clarified he “buried Joel Alvarez on that stage in front of the world” and has changed his name to Drakhan Blackhart.
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