Draya Michele Reacts To Accusations Of Stealing Swimsuit Design

Ivy August 16, 2024 5 min read

Draya Michele didn’t play any games while defending her swimsuit company’s reputation! The Mint Swim founder pulled receipts of her past designs after Barbados designer Chenique Janine accused her of stealing one of her swimwear designs.

Draya took to social media to clarify how she’s handled her business since launching Mint Swim in 2011.

Here’s What The Barbados Designer Alleges

According to Chenique Janine’s website, Janine is based out of Bridgetown, Barbados, and has over “10 years of experience” in swimwear fashion, particularly handmade-to-order pieces.

On Thursday (August 15), Chenique shared a 35-second TikTok video detailing her design theft accusation against Draya and Mint Swim. In the caption, she explained that she recognized and introduced herself to Michele on May 28, 2022, at a “popular beachfront restaurant in Barbados.” She offered one of her swimsuits as “a gift,” and Michele accepted, providing her hotel stay information.

“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 selling a “Kiki” swimsuit that is an “exact replica” of the one-piece she gifted the Mint Swim owner.

“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 started designing I had a list of persons whom I would love to see wear my swimwear and Draya Michele was one of them. On May 28th 2022, while having lunch at a popular beachfront restaurant in Barbados, I recognised a familiar face and drew awareness to the group of friends I was with. Knowing that it was a dream of mine, my friends encouraged me to ask Draya if she would accept a gift from me, which I hesitantly did (because I am shy). While speaking to her, she gave me the details of where she was staying and said I could drop it off at the hotel. 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. Fast forward to 2024. Draya has now mass produced a swimsuit by the name of “Kiki” under her branding “Mintswim” which is an exact replica of the swimsuit I gifted her. No, not as a collaboration but as a “new” piece for her 2024 collection. 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. This is not a post to “shame” her but to draw awareness to the impact actions like this have on the “small man”. I am tired of feeling like I’m not doing something right because I’m not further in my career to then see someone replicate my swimsuits, sell it cheaper and make it readily available for the masses. Can we as women uplift each other when there is an opportunity to do so instead of intentionally / unintentionally tearing each other down? Support other women who are trying to get ahead… she did a solid with her post and the recognition but does not allow anyone the right to steal someone’s intellectual property. #storytime #designer #smallbusiness #bajan #caribbean #influencer #barbados #drayamichele

♬ original sound – Nique?

How Draya Michele Responded To Chenique Janine’s Claims

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

Afterward, she again acknowledged that she accepted the gifted swimsuits and posted them because they were “beautiful” and she “appreciated” Chenique’s “approach” to her.

Draya mentioned that she’s been in business since 2011 and often remixes her “own silhouettes and styles.” She followed up by sharing photos of a 2016 design called ‘Sam’ that allegedly sold over 13,000 units. Then, she shared videos of another style called ‘Bunny’ that she released 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 post, she added that stealing isn’t something she’d be “confident doing” at this point in her career. Additionally, she addressed Chenique directly, calling her a “great designer.”