The model-turned-designer inspired by her idyllic mauritian childhood to create life-enhancing swimwear
Interview by Juliet Herd
In many ways, it made perfect sense for former international model Alicia Rountree to launch her own swimwear brand. After all, she’d spent most of her life in swimwear – as a child growing up by the ocean on the island of Mauritius and as a model working for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Chanel and Victoria Secrets.
“So much of my childhood growing up surrounded by nature and the vibrant, fresh Mauritian life is embedded within the brand.”
She is also something of a natural entrepreneur, having co-founded New York’s chic Tartinery restaurants, launched a book about island living and qualified as a health coach.
Five years ago, Alicia founded premium resort wear brand Alicia Swim, which embodies everything she holds dear: nature, sustainability and freedom. It also led to her meeting her future husband, France-born Arnaud Zannier, founder of the luxury Zannier Hotels group, after he started stocking her collections in his hotels.
In 2021, the London-based couple were married in the tropical garden of Alicia’s family home on the island and they are now proud parents to a baby daughter named Milla.
Here, Alicia tells MilliOnAir why she decided to launch Alicia Swim and why she considers it more than just a swimwear brand.
What is the inspiration behind Alicia Swim?
“I grew up next to the ocean. I had a daily ritual of waking up and diving into the ocean, only to come home from school and do the exact same thing. I spent a lot of my childhood in swimwear and it left an imprint on me. My career as a model then gave me a lot of exposure to brands and designs and I felt like I could improve on what was already in the market with this first-hand experience plus my emotional connection to the product.”
“It’s about paired back island living. We want to bring back that childlike joy of running barefoot on a beach surrounded by family.”
What do you think makes it different to other swimwear labels?
“The Mauritian way of life is a strong differentiator for us. The colours, the freshness and the prints set us apart At Alicia Swim, we say we are connecting you to a life well lived. So much of my childhood growing up surrounded by nature and the vibrant, fresh Mauritian life is embedded within the brand. For me it is a portal to a tropical paradise, strongly rooted in themes of freedom and exploration, time spent close to family and surrounded by natural beauty.
“It’s is about paired back island living. We are not about complicated beach looks. Our product is beautifully made and fitted to ensure that you feel uninhibited and totally carefree. We want to bring back that childlike joy of running barefoot on a beach surrounded by family.”
How has the Mauritian lifestyle influenced your designs?
“The prints are hand drawn by me and are all taken from Mauritian nature. I wanted to recreate this feeling of fresh island living and also design pieces that wouldn’t feel out of place there. Soft floaty kimonos and bucket hats are all bright and vibrant but totally fuss free.”
Has art always been a passion of yours?
“Yes, 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. 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 send it off to our print factory in Italy, where it 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 as they are emblematic of Mauritian nature for me.”
What are the main themes of your designs and how important is colour?
“I am naturally drawn to neutral colours so you will find a lot of sand and sage tones which totally reflect my style. However, colour is just as important because it is so reflective of Mauritian life, from what everyone wears, the fruits, the flowers and even the earth.
“My main designs themes are classic and elegant pieces that will stand the test of time, make you feel amazing and encourage you to move. My lifestyle in Mauritius is all about movement from swimming to yoga to running on the beach so I wanted to make sure our designs reflected this.”
Wraps and sarongs feature in the collection – do you plan to add more resort wear to your collections?
“Yes, definitely. We are growing our collection to add more flexible pieces that can be worn not only on the beach. Think oversize shirts and dresses that are easy to wear with swimwear, but also perfect to wear out in town. I think people are prioritising feeling comfortable in their clothing, so that goes hand-in-hand with easy going clothes you can just slip on without thinking too much. It’s also all about the cut and quality to ensure these comfortable pieces feel stylish and chic.”
How do you go about achieving the perfect fit for different body shapes?
“I design the pieces on myself as I spend a lot of time perfecting the shapes. They have to be cut in the right places to make them as flattering as possible. I also try samples on all my family as I want to get feedback from different ages to make sure I have styles that are suitable for all. I do try to think of different customers and what they are looking for as my number one priority is to make people feel comfortable and confident. Swimwear should enhance you, not make you feel restricted or shy.”
How has your experience as a top model informed your career as a designer?
“I wore so many swimsuits during my career as a model. I shot swimsuits in studios, on beaches and even on a horse, so I really got a feeling for what might be missing in the market. Modelling was also a school for designing as I got to meet so many designers and see how they worked.”
Did you struggle to find the perfect bikini yourself?
“Yes, I often felt the quality and cut wasn’t quite at the standard I wanted. These are two elements we place a lot of importance on. Sourcing sustainable and natural fabric from Italy, plus cutting them in exactly the right place and taking a tailored approach to swimwear.”
How important is sustainability to Alicia Swim?
“I grew up surrounded by and connected to nature so it is essential to me that my brand protects and preserves nature. We focus on being a responsible brand at every stage. All our products are high quality recycled or natural Italian fabrics, we ship by sea and produce locally in Mauritius. All our packaging is recycled and recyclable and we continue to look at how to innovate and improve. We also donate a percentage of profits to environmental charities.
“It was important for me to have the pieces made in Mauritius, 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.”
You’re an eighth generation Mauritian. What are your strongest childhood memories of growing up there?
“I had a wonderful childhood, I am very lucky and I realise that. I think it made me have a positive view on life and be calm. I learned about eating healthy foods because that’s what was natural growing up – we would eat things we had picked from our garden that morning. I spent most of my time outdoors, whether climbing trees, swimming or playing. I go back a few times a year and am usually there for Christmas and January, missing some of the winter months in the UK!”
Congratulations on becoming a mum – how are you finding new motherhood?
“I love it! Milla is a blessing. She is a calm baby and it’s so wonderful to see her growing day by day. I think the hardest part is juggling a business with being a mum as I didn’t really stop working after giving birth – my company is my other baby! But I know it will all fall into place.”
How important is it to you that Milla grows up with an understanding of her Mauritian heritage?
“Milla is going to love Mauritius. I can’t wait for her to learn all about her heritage and the different cultures we are lucky enough to have on our little island. She is a water baby and loves her bath so I know she will love the ocean.”
You and your husband are both invested in preserving the natural world and honouring nature – was that shared passion something you discovered straight away?
“Absolutely. I think it was instilled in us both since childhood and something we appreciated in each other from the outset. We feel passionate about being proactive about this and ensuring our businesses act with purpose is a perfect way to do this. Using your business model as a force for good not just for profit is essential.”
How do you incorporate sustainability into your own lives?
“We really try to make the right choices by working with the right people through our own businesses. I think supporting the brands and businesses that are operating in the right way is one of the most important things a consumer can do. This takes research and perhaps a bit of retraining, plus the most sustainable option is not always the most convenient, but it is possible.”
Do you and Arnaud have any plans to work together, given the synergy between your two brands?
“In a way it feels like we do already, we talk business so much. Also, Alicia Swim is stocked at a few of his properties, so we are always thinking about how each other’s business can support the other.”
How have your nutrition and wellness studies changed you as a person?
“I trained as a nutritionist while I was modelling in New York to ensure I could look after myself in the best way. This healthy way of life was instilled in me from childhood and it is important to me to maintain it. It makes me feel both mentally and physically good and prepared for everything life throws at me.”
You’re launching a skincare range next – what can you tell us about that?
“I’m very excited about this. Again, it is inspired by my childhood. The brand will focus on the meditative effects of rituals and bring to the foreground the calming and centring effects of this through a beauty lens. It is fresh and natural and very complimentary to the Alicia Swim lifestyle.”
Who is your role model?
“My mother has always been so supportive of anything I wanted to do. She always told me to follow my passion and that with hard work and belief in yourself, anything can be achieved. She is also an amazing grandmother.”
How would you describe this time in your life, both professionally and personally?
“Challenging but in a great and fulfilling way. We are looking to take Alicia Swim to the next level – plus, I have just had Milla and am launching a beauty brand. As always, everything seems to happen at once but it is exciting and feels like everything is coming together nicely. I just need to find that balance or blend of work, life and baby, which is a work in progress!”
