Events
FFGAINS: A Brand For Every Body
FFGAINS Is Rewriting the Rules of Fashion, Fitness and Financial Empowerment in Miami and Beyond.
May 25th, 2025
Miami Swim Week is about to get a whole lot more active—and a whole lot more inclusive—thanks to FFGAINS, the rising athleisure and lifestyle brand making waves both on and off the court. With its fresh Pickleball Athleisure Collection, founder Jessyka Castillo is proving that fashion can do more than turn heads—it can change lives.
“I healed myself, literally, through movement,” Castillo shared. “My brand was birthed during my mental health decline, and so everything we do—every collection, every event—is grounded in the belief that movement can save lives. Because for me, it did.”
At this year’s Sip & Pickle event at Wynwood Marketplace, FFGAINS unveiled its first-ever women’s pickleball athleisure collection, alongside a sneak peek at its upcoming men’s line and the much-anticipated debut of its swimwear collection. Models from major agencies hit the courts in FFGAINS’ signature skort sets, complete with four-way stretch, breathable fabrics, and yes—hidden pockets. The vibrant “Miami Yellow,” inspired by a past collaboration during the 2023 Miami Open, continues to be the brand’s hottest seller.
“You wouldn’t believe how fast it flies,” Castillo laughed. “I’ve restocked that color more times than I can count. It’s not even in our brand strategy to keep reproducing capsules, but people won’t let it go. It just hits that Miami vibe perfectly.”
But FFGAINS is more than stylish courtwear. Born from a few Saturday morning beach workouts that Castillo hosted to shake off weekend hangovers and bad vibes, the brand quickly grew into a full-blown movement. What started with a group text to friends now spans across cities like L.A., D.C., Atlanta, and even Turks and Caicos. Community is at its core, and inclusivity is stitched into every seam.
“As a plus-size girl, I just couldn’t find anything that made me feel good and look good,” she explained. “Mass retail would always try to hide our bodies—big flowers, weird cuts—and I didn’t want to hide. I wanted to show up, confidently.”
That frustration turned into innovation. While getting her nails done in downtown Miami, Castillo mentioned her dream of launching her own line. Her nail tech revealed she had a factory connection in Romania—and the rest, as they say, is history. Because FFGAINS sources materials from Europe, they’ve also managed to avoid major supply chain issues and tariffs, which has helped keep quality high and inventory flowing.
“Everything is intentional,” Castillo said. “No logos on the outside, premium Italian fabrics, limited capsule drops—our clothes are meant to move with you from the court to the club. I give keynote speeches in the same outfits I travel in.”
That seamless style is paying off. With FFGAINS now being stocked at Megalit in Downtown Miami and regularly popping up at local events, the brand is becoming a staple for South Florida’s active community. “We’re baby right now,” she said, “but I don’t think we’re going to be a baby for long—not in this crowd.”
Even with expansion on the horizon—like the new men’s line featuring soft cotton tees and coordinated short sets—Castillo isn’t straying from her original mission. During Mental Health Awareness Month, she doubled down on her commitment to wellness by hosting community events and financial workshops that reflect FFGAINS’ dual focus on fitness and financial literacy.
“We’re called Fitness and Financial Gains for a reason,” she said. “It’s not just about working out. It’s about taking control of your life—your body, your mind, your money. Because those things are all connected.”
The company also embraces diversity in sizing, offering apparel from extra-small to 3X, and even dabbling in mommy-and-me sets and youth pieces for the next generation of confident movers.
“There are women who have to shop in the kids’ section at Walmart because they’re so petite, and there are curvy women who want to wear crop tops and feel sexy on a paddleboard,” she said. “We’re here for all of them.”
That inclusivity was on full display during the Model Pickleball Tournament, where teams of models played in FFGAINS gear, showcasing not just the functionality of the clothes but also the fun, fierce energy of the brand. All this buzz led up to the official FFGAINS Miami Swim Week Runway Show on May 31st at the Surfcomber Hotel, a collaboration with Fusion Fashion Events that promises to bring even more bold, body-positive energy to South Beach.
As Castillo puts it: “MOVE!… Like your mental health depends on it.”
And in a world that’s finally starting to understand the connection between wellness, community, and confidence, FFGAINS is right where it belongs—at the intersection of fashion and purpose.
You can shop the collection at ShopFFGAINS.com or follow their journey on Instagram @fitnessfinancialgains.
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The Miami born app celebrated a major milestone with a seriously fun South Florida party, but 100,000 downloads are only part of what’s next.
September 26, 2026
Zéya had plenty to celebrate, and they definitely knew how to throw a party.
The Miami-born swapping app recently marked 100,000 downloads, and SFL Insider joined the celebration for a night that felt much more like a fun Miami get-together than a typical tech event.
The atmosphere was lively, social, and genuinely welcoming, which actually made a lot of sense once we learned more about what Zéya is trying to build. This isn’t supposed to be another faceless marketplace where you post something and hope a stranger buys it. Zéya wants swapping to feel social, easy and connected to your community.
And after spending the evening celebrating with the people behind it, that part of the concept clicked.
Because we all have stuff.
The dress you wore once. The bag you loved until you didn’t. The camera you were definitely going to learn how to use. The random purchase that seemed necessary at the time and has barely moved since.
Zéya’s question is pretty simple: Why keep buying more when someone nearby might want exactly what you already have?
Even better, the app is now getting ready to move beyond swapping just things.
Services are coming too.
And that could make Zéya a whole lot more interesting.
– Creative Director & Strategist: Kateryna Brovkova — @kate.directs – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7 – Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Sounds by: Lacré Studios — @studioslacre
Swipe. Match. Swap.
The easiest way to describe Zéya is old school bartering with a very modern makeover.
You browse what’s available nearby, see something you want and connect with the person who has it.
Then you offer something of your own.
Swipe. Match. Swap.
If the values don’t quite line up, Zéya allows an optional cash top-up to help make the trade work. And now, you don’t necessarily have to swap at all.
Zéya’s new cash-only option is officially live, meaning users can purchase an item directly when they find something they want. That’s a pretty significant shift for an app that started with swapping at its core. You can still trade, add cash to balance out a swap, or now skip the trade altogether and simply buy.
In other words, Zéya is starting to look less like a traditional bartering app and more like a flexible local marketplace where you decide how you want to make the deal.
100,000 Downloads Is a Pretty Big Deal
Zéya has now officially surpassed 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android, an exciting milestone for a company that started right here in Miami.
Founder and CEO Mehdi Taifi sees that number as something bigger than just downloads.
“One hundred thousand downloads is exciting because it shows that swapping can become a real habit, not a last resort,” Taifi said.
That idea stuck with me.
We’re so used to thinking buy when we want something new. Zēya is trying to get us to think swap first.
Earlier this year, the company also closed a $2.45 million strategic growth round led by Storage Innovations LLC, helping support its next stage of development.
Judging by the energy at the celebration, Zéya certainly isn’t treating 100K like a finish line.
– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Founder: Mehdi Taifi — @medimeds – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7
Zēya 4.0 Makes the Whole Thing Easier
The company has also rolled out Zéya 4.0, designed to make getting from “I want that” to actually completing a swap much faster.
One of my favorite additions is the AI Listing Assistant, mostly because writing listings is probably the least exciting part of selling anything online.
Take a photo, upload it, and the app can generate the item name, description, and category in seconds.
Done.
The update also adds chat before making an offer, group chat, and a visual balance meter that makes it easier to see whether a proposed swap feels fair.
Zéya has expanded its categories too, including Baby & Toddler and Sports & Outdoors.
So that barely used handbag has value.
But so do the golf clubs in the garage.
And Now Zēya Is Moving Beyond Stuff
This might be my favorite part of what’s coming next.
Zéya is adding services.
That changes the whole idea of what you can bring to a swap.
Maybe you don’t have a designer bag to trade, but you’re an amazing photographer.
Maybe you tutor.
Maybe you’re a personal trainer, stylist, graphic designer, pet sitter or the magical person who actually knows how to organize a closet.
Your skills have value too.
The full details of how services will work are still to come, but opening Zēya to services takes it beyond simple bartering. It becomes more about exchanging value, whether that value happens to be sitting in your closet or comes from something you know how to do.
And suddenly the possibilities get much bigger.
It All Feels Very Miami
Maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed the celebration so much.
Zéya feels very Miami.
It’s social. It’s stylish. It’s a little entrepreneurial. And it revolves around discovering something you want without necessarily paying full price for it.
We can absolutely get behind that.
The party reflected that same energy. People were mingling, talking about the app and celebrating what is clearly a big moment for the team, but it never felt overly corporate or stuffy. It felt like a community celebrating something that started locally and is beginning to grow.
That seems especially fitting for a company that wants its marketplace to feel like a community too.
Swap, Don’t Shop
There is an obvious sustainability benefit to giving perfectly good things another life instead of constantly buying new ones.
But Zéya doesn’t make that feel like a lecture.
The appeal is much simpler.
You have things you don’t use. Someone else wants them. And chances are, they have something you want too.
Add AI-assisted listings, local discovery, cash top-ups, cash-only purchases, community features, and soon the ability to exchange services, and it starts looking very different from the bartering most of us remember.
Zéya’s tagline is “Swap Don’t Shop.”
After a fun night celebrating 100,000 downloads and getting a closer look at where the Miami company is headed next, we’re curious to see just how far people are willing to take that idea.
Because if swapping can be this easy and this social, maybe we really don’t need to buy everything new.
– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Venue: One K — @onek_socialbar
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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.
August 20, 2026
Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.
South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.
The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.
On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.
Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection
Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.
Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.
The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.
We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.
Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.
It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.
Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami
There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.
In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.
A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.
Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.
Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.
The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.
Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall
Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.
The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.
Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.
Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar
Fashion is only part of the experience.
For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.
Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.
The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.
Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.
The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.
A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home
For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.
Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.
Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.
And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.
After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.
Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.
Check out the collection HERE
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