Draya Michele didn’t play any video games whereas defending her swimsuit firm’s fame! The Mint Swim founder pulled receipts of her previous designs after Barbados designer Chenique Janine accused her of stealing certainly one of her swimwear designs.

Draya took to social media to make clear how she’s dealt with her enterprise since launching Mint Swim in 2011.

Here’s What The Barbados Designer Alleges

According to Chenique Janine’s web site, Janine relies out of Bridgetown, Barbados, and has over “10 years of experience” in swimwear vogue, significantly handmade-to-order items.

On Thursday (August 15), Chenique shared a 35-second TikTook video detailing her design theft accusation in opposition to Draya and Mint Swim. In the caption, she defined that she acknowledged and launched herself to Michele on May 28, 2022, at a “popular beachfront restaurant in Barbados.” She supplied certainly one of her swimsuits as “a gift,” and Michele accepted, offering her lodge keep data.

“Being a designer who does EVERYTHING by hand alone, I didn’t have a bunch of swimsuits I could just grab and give to her. So I went into my studio and made her two swimwear pieces, and dropped them off at her hotel just before midnight. The next day she posted images of the swimwear and tagged my business page, which I was grateful for.”

Now, the Barbados designer says Draya is promoting a “Kiki” swimsuit that’s an “exact replica” of the one-piece she gifted the Mint Swim proprietor.

“As a small business owner this is beyond hurtful, for several reasons. Every single swimsuit my clients have received is handcrafted by myself. I do not have the finances or resources at this stage to mass produce at the level she and other fast fashion brands who have stolen my designs in the past have. She did not even reach out and suggest a collaboration. Some of you may see absolutely nothing wrong with this. But this is literally my bread and butter. This is how I make my living,” Chenique wrote.

@itsokaytobeunique

From the time I began designing I had an inventory of individuals whom I’d like to see put on my swimwear and Draya Michele was certainly one of them. On May twenty eighth 2022, whereas having lunch at a preferred beachfront restaurant in Barbados, I recognised a well-known face and drew consciousness to the group of associates I used to be with. Knowing that it was a dream of mine, my associates inspired me to ask Draya if she would settle for a present from me, which I hesitantly did (as a result of I’m shy). While talking to her, she gave me the main points of the place she was staying and mentioned I might drop it off on the lodge. Being a designer who does EVERYTHING by hand alone, I didn’t have a bunch of swimsuits I might simply seize and provides to her. So I went into my studio and made her two swimwear items and dropped them off at her lodge simply earlier than midnight. The subsequent day she posted pictures of the swimwear and tagged my enterprise web page, which I used to be grateful for. Fast ahead to 2024. Draya has now mass produced a swimsuit by the title of “Kiki” below her branding “Mintswim” which is a precise duplicate of the swimsuit I gifted her. No, not as a collaboration however as a “new” piece for her 2024 assortment. As a small enterprise proprietor that is past hurtful, for a number of causes. Every single swimsuit my shoppers have acquired is hand made on my own. I should not have the funds or assets at this stage to mass produce on the stage she and different quick vogue manufacturers who’ve stolen my designs previously have. She didn’t even attain out and recommend a collaboration. Some of you might even see completely nothing unsuitable with this. But that is actually my bread and butter. This is how I make my residing. This isn’t a put up to “shame” her however to attract consciousness to the influence actions like this have on the “small man”. I’m bored with feeling like I’m not doing one thing proper as a result of I’m not additional in my profession to then see somebody replicate my swimsuits, promote it cheaper and make it available for the plenty. Can we as ladies uplift one another when there is a chance to take action as an alternative of deliberately / unintentionally tearing one another down? Support different ladies who’re making an attempt to get forward… she did a strong together with her put up and the popularity however doesn’t enable anybody the precise to steal somebody’s mental property. #storytime #designer #smallbusiness #bajan #caribbean #influencer #barbados #drayamichele

♬ unique sound – Nique

How Draya Michele Responded To Chenique Janine’s Claims

Less than a day after Chenique Janine blasted her, Draya Michele responded through Instagram Stories in a collection of posts. First, she shared Janine’s video, encouraging her followers to “watch the full thing.” Then, she said that the designer is “correct” about gifting her the swimsuits, however “incorrect” about her “stealing a design.”

Afterward, she once more acknowledged that she accepted the gifted swimsuits and posted them as a result of they had been “beautiful” and he or she “appreciated” Chenique’s “approach” to her.

Draya talked about that she’s been in enterprise since 2011 and sometimes remixes her “own silhouettes and styles.” She adopted up by sharing photographs of a 2016 design known as ‘Sam’ that allegedly offered over 13,000 items. Then, she shared movies of one other type known as ‘Bunny’ that she launched in May 2022.

“In 2024, I merged a front of one design with the back of another. Both my original designs, and added a clasp. And I called it Kiki,” Draya wrote. “The only thing I did was remix my previous styles for a new twist. It often repeats itself. That’s how it goes.”

In a separate put up, she added that stealing isn’t one thing she’d be “confident doing” at this level in her profession. Additionally, she addressed Chenique instantly, calling her a “great designer.”

“…I wish you the best of luck in future and I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself,” she wrote.

Swipe under to see Draya’s dated receipts. Chenique has but to react to Michele’s response. 

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