Barbara Bui (born Paris, 1957) entered the world of fashion in 1983 when she opened a boutique, Kabuki, with her business partner William Halimi. Within this environment, Bui began to introduce some of her own designs; four years later she presented her first full collection to international press and buyers. In 1988, the first Barbara Bui shop opened on Rue Etienne Marcel in Paris and in 1998 Bui started a diffusion line, Barbara Bui Initials, a line of classic daywear. In 1999, Barbara Bui switched from Paris to New York in order to show her collection, but since then has shied away from catwalk shows and is currently working with the photographer David Bailey. Today she has stores in New York and Milan, as well as Paris, and a best-selling range of shoes and bags.