Bimini Models for London Designer Dylan Joel's Fashion Film
LGBTQ

Bimini Models for London Designer Dylan Joel's Fashion Film

Before RuPaul's Drag Race UK aired, London designer Dylan Joel asked Bimini Bon Boulash to model his Spring 2021 collection. "I knew about Bimini in east London as they was the dancer that everyone was talking about, so I knew I had to ask them to model for me," Joel tells PAPER of the September shoot. "The clothes really worked so well on Bimini."

The result is a campy fashion film — directed and shot by Daniel Groundland — that features another dancer named Celeesi and a clubby soundtrack by DJ Jodie Harsh. Both Bimini and Celeesi wear Joel's over-the-top looks, which the independent designer describe as "androgynous" with elements of "womenswear and menswear," and queer references to pop culture.

Among Joel's standout pieces is a silver dress, modeled by Bimini, with monstrous shoulders decorated in petal-shaped, feathery scales. For more everyday styles, Spring 2021 also offers a range of patchwork denim, sparkly sheer party dresses and matching lavender sets with belts and straps for added interest.

The decision to include Harsh's music came "after many years going to her club nights and seeing her perform," Joel says. "I love Jodie's tracks and really felt they matched the energy of the pieces. I also love working with fellow queer artists. There is so many voices that need to be heard and many I would love to work with to create more art."

Joel, who's originally from Glasgow, Scotland, studied fashion design with a focus on womenswear at London College of Fashion. There, he was selected as a "Rising Star" at the Barclays Entrepreneur Awards in 2020. Having previously worked with names like Gareth Pugh and David Koma, he's since broken out on his own and already dressed names like Melanie C.

Watch Bimini pose in Dylan Joel's Spring 2021 film, above, and follow the up-and-coming designer on Instagram (@dylanjoelstudio).

Behind the scenes photos courtesy of Dylan Joel