Some birthdays are marked with gifts.
This one was marked with creation.
THIS IS RISA began as a birthday decision — a deeply personal one. Instead of wearing another designer, I chose to build something I had carried quietly for years. A dream. A name. A vision that had lived in my mind long before it ever lived on a dress form.
RISA is not a side project.
It is the manifestation of a long-held desire to create clothing with intention, memory, and emotional weight. Clothing that is considered. Clothing that allows a woman to decide how she shows up, not the other way around.
This project came to life through a collaboration within my own ecosystem: RISA by BUI, Buifabrics, and Bui Accessories. Every element was chosen deliberately, with respect for craft and for the woman at the centre of the story. THIS IS RISA is not about excess or spectacle. It is about clarity, structure, and choice.
The story unfolds through two looks — different in expression, united in philosophy:
clothing should adapt to the woman, not restrict her.
LOOK 1: THE RAINBOW CORSET SET🌈
Joy, chosen
Look One was born from happiness, the kind that feels expansive and childlike, yet grounded in maturity. It is expressive, animated, and imaginative, while still rooted in couture discipline and feminine strength.
At its centre is a fully beaded, structured French corset: sculptural, precise, unapologetically refined. Against this strong foundation, colour is allowed to exist freely. The rainbow is not costume. It is curiosity evolved, a reminder that joy does not disappear with age; it becomes intentional.
Versatility is key to this look. The corset is designed with two skirt options:
- a dramatic full skirt with a long, folded raised slit — commanding and architectural
- and a voluminous rainbow tulle skirt crafted from over 100 yards of tulle — expansive, dreamlike, and celebratory
Each piece can be worn together or apart, reinforcing RISA’s belief in choice — in mood, movement, and expression.
This is RISA choosing joy on purpose.
VIDEO
SHOP HER ACCESSORIES
LOOK 2: ALICE IN WONDERLAND 2.0
Seduction, refined.
Look Two is quieter — but no less powerful. It is a study in controlled sensuality, self-awareness, and restraint.
A halter-neck silhouette meets a low-back corset construction, sharply cinching the waist and exaggerating the hips with intention. Feminine without apology. Sculpted without excess.
Crafted from Alice in Wonderland 2.0 fabric layered over stretch taffeta, the look plays with texture and dimension. Appliqué work is placed deliberately — to contour the body, guide the eye, and elevate the fabric beyond surface beauty.
An architectural overskirt, finished with a bow at the back, completes the look. It introduces contrast: softness against structure, drama against restraint. The overskirt can be removed to reveal a sleek mini beneath — a quiet expression of versatility, confidence, and choice.
This is elegance with clarity.
Sexiness that is intentional, not performative.
A woman fully aware of her presence — and comfortable owning it.
This is RISA in her confidence
VIDEO
SHOP HER ACCESSORIES
PHOTO CREDITS
- Muse: @chibuibaby
- Dress:@https://www.instagram.com/risabybui/
- Creative Direction & Styling: @chibuibaby
- Accessories: @buiaccessories
- Fabric: @buifabrics
- Photographer:@ahamibeleme
- Cinematographer: @eddiemaven
- Hairstylist: @tinavalty_place
- Makeup:@t.alamodebeauty
- Manicurist: @___nailsbymolly
- Location: @aipstudiosng
