The Biba Documentary along with episodic social media series featuring Barbara Hulanicki and directed by Nada Ray, offers a South Beach perspective on her creativity, imagination, and lasting legacy as the visionary fashion icon who founded the legendary BIBA brand. This cinematic, semi-fictional, semi-documentary journey—structured through short-form social media episodes and a feature film—explores pivotal moments across her life and career.
Through new interviews with Hulanicki, along with insights from fans, collaborators, and experts, BIBA IN THE SUN showcases her transformative cultural impact across generations. Designed to connect with younger, social-media-savvy audiences as well as viewers of all ages, it presents a visually rich portrait of a designer whose influence spans from 1960s London to present-day Miami Beach. Biba documentary, produced by Ocean Ray Media, expected release 2026.
Read more
Barbara Hulanicki transformed the cultural landscape with the creation of BIBA, a brand that became synonymous with youth, rebellion, freedom, and accessible style. Known for its deep, dramatic color palette, sleek silhouettes, and a distinct sense of fantasy, Big BIBA became more than a store; it became an immersive world. Young musicians, artists, photographers, and fashion icons—including Twiggy, Helmut Newton, and Sarah Moon—passed through its doors and helped shape the atmosphere that made BIBA a cultural phenomenon.
Big BIBA, the iconic Art Deco building and multi-level store on Kensington High Street, quickly became a magnet for celebrities and tastemakers. Shoppers included Brigitte Bardot, and young musicians such as Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, and many others, who were often seen lounging on the famous Biba sofa, soaking in the energy, glamour, and stylish chaos of the store. The legendary Biba Girls, known for their distinctive look, poise, and presence, became icons in their own right—among them Mary Austin, who embodied the youthful rebellion and mystery of the era.
The documentary explores how Hulanicki’s early work revolutionized London during a period of powerful cultural transformation. BIBA democratized fashion, offered bold alternatives to traditional retail, and introduced a theatrical, immersive approach to shopping where every garment, pattern, and piece of décor contributed to an enchanting universe of beauty and wonder.
The film also examines Hulanicki’s next chapter after leaving the UK. Throughout the 1990s, she contributed to the revitalization of Miami Beach, designing interiors for hotels, boutiques, and nightclubs and infusing neglected spaces with her signature sense of drama, color, and playful refinement. Her designs helped spark a renaissance that reintroduced Miami Beach as a vibrant artistic and culturally rich destination.
In Miami Beach, Hulanicki designed interiors for some of the city’s most notable venues and private residences—including projects for Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ronnie Wood, and Chris Blackwell. Her ability to blend Art Deco heritage with modern vibrancy helped shape Miami Beach’s evolving design identity. She also created wardrobe pieces for Gloria Estefan’s music videos, bringing her iconic visual language into the world of pop culture and performance.
Throughout her career, Hulanicki’s impact has been recognized globally. She received the OBE from King Charles, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to fashion and design. Her work continues to be celebrated by major cultural institutions: a tribute exhibition honoring her legacy was presented at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2024, and another major retrospective is scheduled at the Textile and Fashion Museum in Edinburgh in 2026. These honors affirm her status as one of the most influential creative figures of the past century.
BIBA IN THE SUN traces this extraordinary transatlantic journey—from the electric energy of 1960s London to the kaleidoscopic creativity of Miami Beach decades later. The film and its accompanying episodic series—Biba Tales—feature rare archival images, personal anecdotes, and newly filmed 2025 interviews that illuminate Hulanicki’s world. Through these stories, viewers witness not only the evolution of BIBA, but also the philosophy of reinvention that has guided Barbara throughout her life.
The project also invites audiences to consider Barbara’s profound impact on visual culture. Her work spans fashion, illustration, interior design, architecture, hospitality, and urban revitalization. Even today, her unmistakable style continues to inspire new generations of designers, artists, and cultural innovators who admire her bold commitment to authenticity, experimentation, and beauty.
In addition to celebrating her legacy, BIBA IN THE SUN launches the Barbara Hulanicki Archive Initiative, dedicated to preserving drawings, photographs, designs, and documents that represent decades of artistic innovation. As Barbara often says, there is “so much brap”—so many artifacts of a life well lived—that deserve thoughtful archival care.
OCEANRAY MEDIA 2025
The Biba Documentary along with episodic social media series featuring Barbara Hulanicki and directed by Nada Ray, offers a South Beach perspective on her creativity, imagination, and lasting legacy as the visionary fashion icon who founded the legendary BIBA brand. This cinematic, semi-fictional, semi-documentary journey—structured through short-form social media episodes and a feature film—explores pivotal moments across her life and career.
Read more
Hulanichi’s rich career and design experiences.
Barbara Hulanicki transformed the cultural landscape with the creation of BIBA, a brand that became synonymous with youth, rebellion, freedom, and accessible style. Known for its deep, dramatic color palette, sleek silhouettes, and a distinct sense of fantasy, Big BIBA became more than a store; it became an immersive world. Young musicians, artists, photographers, and fashion icons—including Twiggy, Helmut Newton, and Sarah Moon—passed through its doors and helped shape the atmosphere that made BIBA a cultural phenomenon.
Big BIBA, the iconic Art Deco building and multi-level store on Kensington High Street, quickly became a magnet for celebrities and tastemakers. Shoppers included Brigitte Bardot, and young musicians such as Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, and many others, who were often seen lounging on the famous Biba sofa, soaking in the energy, glamour, and stylish chaos of the store. The legendary Biba Girls, known for their distinctive look, poise, and presence, became icons in their own right—among them Mary Austin, who embodied the youthful rebellion and mystery of the era.
The documentary explores how Hulanicki’s early work revolutionized London during a period of powerful cultural transformation. BIBA democratized fashion, offered bold alternatives to traditional retail, and introduced a theatrical, immersive approach to shopping where every garment, pattern, and piece of décor contributed to an enchanting universe of beauty and wonder.
The film also examines Hulanicki’s next chapter after leaving the UK. Throughout the 1990s, she contributed to the revitalization of Miami Beach, designing interiors for hotels, boutiques, and nightclubs and infusing neglected spaces with her signature sense of drama, color, and playful refinement. Her designs helped spark a renaissance that reintroduced Miami Beach as a vibrant artistic and culturally rich destination.
In Miami Beach, Hulanicki designed interiors for some of the city’s most notable venues and private residences—including projects for Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ronnie Wood, and Chris Blackwell. Her ability to blend Art Deco heritage with modern vibrancy helped shape Miami Beach’s evolving design identity. She also created wardrobe pieces for Gloria Estefan’s music videos, bringing her iconic visual language into the world of pop culture and performance.
Throughout her career, Hulanicki’s impact has been recognized globally. She received the OBE from King Charles, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to fashion and design. Her work continues to be celebrated by major cultural institutions: a tribute exhibition honoring her legacy was presented at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2024, and another major retrospective is scheduled at the Textile and Fashion Museum in Edinburgh in 2026. These honors affirm her status as one of the most influential creative figures of the past century.
BIBA IN THE SUN traces this extraordinary transatlantic journey—from the electric energy of 1960s London to the kaleidoscopic creativity of Miami Beach decades later. The film and its accompanying episodic series—Biba Tales—feature rare archival images, personal anecdotes, and newly filmed 2025 interviews that illuminate Hulanicki’s world. Through these stories, viewers witness not only the evolution of BIBA, but also the philosophy of reinvention that has guided Barbara throughout her life.
The project also invites audiences to consider Barbara’s profound impact on visual culture. Her work spans fashion, illustration, interior design, architecture, hospitality, and urban revitalization. Even today, her unmistakable style continues to inspire new generations of designers, artists, and cultural innovators who admire her bold commitment to authenticity, experimentation, and beauty.
In addition to celebrating her legacy, BIBA IN THE SUN launches the Barbara Hulanicki Archive Initiative, dedicated to preserving drawings, photographs, designs, and documents that represent decades of artistic innovation. As Barbara often says, there is “so much brap”—so many artifacts of a life well lived—that deserve thoughtful archival care.
