Alicia Rountree, the CEO and Founder at ALICIA SWIM, shares her summer fashion and beauty tips, as well as what’s on her packing list when she’s travelling…
Go to aliciaswim.com
I grew up in Mauritius…
I remember a very laid-back upbringing being very close to nature. We spent a lot of time outdoors running around and climbing trees, it was natural to be barefoot and very close to family. I build a lot of this into my brand and have carried with me the healthy and vibrant way of life.
I hand paint all of our signature prints with watercolours…
I was not at all academic at school. I loved art class and drama class. I’m definitely more of a creative person. I have quite an artistic background having talented artists in my family who did it as a career or as a hobby. I have painted most of my prints while home in Mauritius. I’m inspired by nature, the sounds of birds, just the feeling of calm being on the island is also a huge inspiration. Once a print is painted, we make it digital then I send it off to our print factory in Italy and the print is trialled on our fabric until we get the colours and sizing right. Two key prints this season are the Bird of Paradise and our signature Coral print which I love. Two motifs that are emblematic of Mauritian nature for me.
It was important for me to have the pieces made in Mauritius…
I wanted to give back to the local community I grew up with and to support jobs. The level of skill is so high and I wanted to encourage awareness of this and further promote Mauritian artisans. I took the time to work closely with the artisans in Mauritius to get the best quality possible as well as choosing to work with factories who have similar values to our brand.
I wanted to create a brand that encapsulated island life…
I wanted to captured my love of this. The brand is a portal to tropical island life and channels the Mauritian nature, way of life and attitude. I wanted to create a brand that transported you, plus I always felt there was room for really well tailored and high quality swimwear. Something that hold its shape throughout the years, and you feel comfortable in. The combination of this mentality and quality was something I didn’t feel existed.
When I’m packing for a summer holiday I’ll pack…
A bikini, a kimono and our new bucket hat from Alicia Swim! I love also love our Jodie one piece in two colours – Sand and Sunrise. It’s such a chic cut and can be worn with shorts or a skirt too. Sunscreen is a must, as well as an oversized shirt. We have a beautiful one coming out in our new collection later this year which I can’t wait for. I don’t roll my clothes, but I do keep different items of clothing in different parts of the suitcase so I can quickly unpack on arrival. I also always pack a couple essential outfits in a carry-on in case my suitcase gets delayed or lost on the way.
I am very minimal with beauty…
I always carry lip balm from Summer Fridays, Barbara Sturm Sundrops for the face, and the sample of face oil from my own beauty brand launching soon. For makeup. I only use a bit of concealer and eyebrow pencil. I feel that keeping skin clean and natural on holiday is easier and looks better.