The bikinis, one pieces and thongs have come and gone from (two!) separate Magic City swimsuit extravaganzas this summer, but there’s one show still making waves.
That would be the always eye-raising Black Tape Project, by Joel Alvarez.
On the evening of July 8 at the Fontainebleau hotel, the controversial designer paraded models down the runway in his signature wearable sticky tape in all colors, shapes and, um, sizes.
“The brand showcased over 100 looks … breaking fashion norms and pioneering artistic fashion in the 21st century,” says a release of the “boundary pushing designs” at Miami Swim Week event Powered by Art Hearts Fashion.
The beyond skimpy styles were, as always, striking in a quasi X-rated/NSFW way, as the women were not covered by any actual fabric or material, just strategically placed adhesive.
There was one sea change at this particular show: It was Alvarez’s first in his hometown since his moniker change.
Alvarez’s Instagram bio now reads in all caps: “My name is Drakhan Blackhart. The King of Tape. Father of Dragons [the term he uses for his models]. Breakers of chains.”
Why the reinvention? It seems the creative genius went through a bad breakup and wanted to start fresh. In February at New York Fashion Week, he told the Village Voice that he invited his ex to sit in the front row for closure.
“The whole show was meant to let her go and bury Joel Alvarez on that stage for the world to see,” Blackhart told the newspaper. “It was 1000 percent only for her. I still wish her the best, but Joel had to go.”
Don’t cry for this guy, who has worked on major celeb projects with Michael Bay (“Pain and Gain”), Billy Ray Cyrus and Rick Ross and also sells his signature tape online starting at $29.99 a pop.
“Now Drakhan Blackhart is here, and he is not a hopeless romantic,” he continued. “He is the king of tape. The most controversial designer on the planet.”
Like most masterminds who think outside the box, Alvarez does have his share of critics. A few Internet trolls called out the Fontainebleau show out for the lack of diversity and inclusion. For example, major label Cupshe just celebrated such models as Marsha Ella, who was born with one leg, and Chanel Iman, who is due to give birth any day.
Blackhart seems to think he is in a class by himself, and he kind of is. He called his most recent risque show “historic” and plans to rock NYFW yet again in the fall.
On Wednesday, the designer’s Instagram feed lit up with a snap of a blond, statuesque beauty wrapped in what appeared to be bondage gear.
The caption: “@thekingoftape gave Miami Swim Week a show that they can’t stop talking about.” (Miami Herald)
