SKiMWEAR: "More Than Underwear, Less Than a Swimsuit"

 

S K I M W E A R 

designs  by  D i c e

Dice, models & I pose on the red carpet

::THE  D E S I G N E R  & I:: It was August of 2010 when I called Kim "Dice" Douglas, a 31 year old Dallas, Texas native, asking if she'd be interested in showcasing her swimwear line at a fashion show I was set to host. Nicknamed Dicey by her grandfather, Kim decided to shorten it up and use the childhood name as her own within the industry. Although the name was given according to her edginess perceived at birth, Dice appears as humble and calm while working. However, do not let this petite woman's smile, class and style fool you. She may not be that edgy little girl anymore, after all, who has time to be when they could simply express it through designs.  

Myself hosting in a Skimwear bikini top

::L O O S E THREADS:: With her first love and background being costume design, Dice did not have intensions on specializing in swimwear. "A photographer friend of mine was shooting for Playboy and needed very specific swimsuits for an interesting concept he was aiming towards. He asked me if I would make him some, so I did. All the models LOVED them so much, [I] didn't even wind up taking any back home, so I just started making swimsuits from that point on." Dice decided to call her line Skimwear because after her first experience with making swimsuits, she realized she enjoyed making skimpy swimwear without elastic and padding. Making a line specially for show and not to swim in, she further describes her line as being "more than underwear, but less than a swimsuit". By appreciating the world a lot more, Dice also tries to create new swimsuits by using recycled pieces of fabric from other textiles. For instance, the bikini top I am wearing while hosting in the picture featured above was made from flower petals of an old purse, which is what I appreciated most about her line. 

::MAKING ENDS M E E T:: Aside from continually being requested to borrow pieces for various shoots by many, some projects Skimwear has been featured in will awe you. In 2009, four leading models wore Skimwear in a music video by R&B artist Ray J. In 2010, the hot swimwear line had five different pieces featured on the iphone application Bikini Flip. Later that year, not only did the line make it onto Maxim Online but was also displayed in Physique Fitness Magazine. In addition to other offers, the line was taken into consideration by Guess. Although mind-blowing and certainly flattering, Dice decided to turn down the opportunity in being one of the key designers stating "the use of African American models for Guess is nonexistent and probably always will be." Standing her grounds within her African American heritage, Dice is driven and dedicated to reassuring that Skimwear remains her own and I am, personally, honored to have worked alongside this ambitious woman of great talent and craft.

xoxo,

SaBRiNa a.