Alexandra Miro a swimwear designer and the founder of luxury swim and resort wear brand ALEXANDRA MIRO. Alexandra launched her collection this Spring, creating luxury pieces that are designed to empower and showcase her love for design, architecture and admiration of the female form. We love Alexandra’s minimalist design aesthetic, clean lines and the quality of each garment that is focused on the perfect fit. She creates the ultimate one-piece that enhances and flatters all body shapes.
Besides working in the fashion industry, she is also a digital influencer and worked with brands like Missoni and Blumarine.
Being the daughter of the famous gallery owner and collector Victoria Miro, Alexandra grew up surrounded by incredible art which influenced her attention to detail and passion to create.
Please read our interview with Alexandra, follow her journey on INSTAGRAM and shop the collection at ALEXANDRAMIRO.COM
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT LED YOU TO LAUNCH ALEXANDRA MIRO SWIM?
As an avid and enthusiastic traveller and consumer of swim and resort wear, I always felt there was a gap in the market for swimwear that was structured and supportive, yet looked effortless and high fashion.
Prior to launching the brand, I’d worked as a multi retailer for upscale lingerie brands – La Perla, Stella McCartney, to name a few, I became quite fascinated by the construction of these pieces and wanted to find a way to implement them into swimwear design.
I grew up in a very minimalist home designed by renowned architects John Pawson & Claudio Silvestrin this stripped back aesthetic has without doubt influenced me from a young age.
ALEXANDRA MIRO
WE LOVE THE MINIMALIST LINES AND SIMPLICITY OF YOUR COLLECTION. WHAT IS THE ETHOS AND PHILOSOPHY BEHIND YOUR BRAND?
At the heart brand lies the implicit desire to make women feel confident and empowered when wearing our swimwear. Sometimes swimwear looks pretty and alluring on the body of a lithe, young girl, but is lacking on a womanly shape. Whilst I am ambivalent about talking about ‘real’ bodies as all bodies are ‘real’ we certainly design with a more realistic body shape in mind.
The design aesthetic is minimalist but the construction is anything but. Our customer is sophisticated and chic, travelled and educated yet she wants her body to look as good as possible in swimwear.
BEING A DAUGHTER OF VICTORIA MIRO, YOU GREW UP BEING SURROUNDED BY THE WORLD’S MOST INCREDIBLE ART. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST AND DOES ART INFLUENCE YOUR DESIGN AESTHETIC?
I was incredibly fortunate to have grown up in an environment of great creativity, surrounded by artists and their work. It would be unfair to pinpoint one artist as my favourite, but I do admire the work of the artist Chantal Joffe I find her portrayals of women and children, beautiful but sort of menacing at the same time. The swimwear is not necessarily directly influenced by art but I concede that being surrounded by it can result in a degree of osmosis.
I do however, favour clean lines and minimalist styles. I grew up in a very minimalist home designed by renowned architects John Pawson & Claudio Silvestrin this stripped back aesthetic has without doubt influenced me from a young age. In fact we are renovating our family home this year and are redesigning our home to be a shrine to minimalism. Not sure how achievable this will be with our scruffy, smelly dog and my eight year old, Sophia, who is the ultimate hoarder!
Whilst I am ambivalent about talking about ‘real’ bodies as all bodies are ‘real’ we certainly design with a more realistic body shape in mind.
ALEXANDRA MIRO
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM SHOOT OR COLLABORATION?
Commonly I think swimwear shoots lack imagination. How many times is it interesting to see a cookie cutter blonde wistfully strolling down a beach? Instead I would love to find shoot locations and even models that break the mould. If money were not object, I’d shoot my absolute muse Monica Belluci wearing the swimwear in somewhere unexpected such as the Icelandic fjords or on top of a fabulous snow-capped mountain.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE?
Creating my own design from concept to finished product.
All the women that I admire own their own looks and flaws with confidence and this is ultimately beautiful and deeply inspiring.
ALEXANDRA MIRO
WHAT’S YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION?
I find certain women fascinating and inspiring. My top 3 would be Sarah Harris – UK Vogue, Leila Yavari – Stylebop and my ultimate beach babe is Tash Oakley. Tash is still relatively young but I find her curvy body that looks fit and healthy inspiring. For me she is the perfect example of looking outrageously hot whilst not having to adhere to the ultra skinny ideal that is peddled in magazines. All the women that I admire own their own looks and flaws with confidence and this is ultimately beautiful and deeply inspiring.
YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY BUSY JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD, FAMILY LIFE AND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?
Good question! I’m a real gym junkie, I love training as it forces you to exist in the present, something that is so difficult in our digital age. I work out about 5 days a week. When I don’t I feel stressed and overwhelmed so it is without doubt my best therapy! I always say that I need to do more relaxing forms of exercise such as yoga and even meditation but I always put them off.
IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, WHAT WOULD YOU BUY?
I would have somebody come round every day, wash and blow dry my hair. Change my bed linen every day. Make sure my dog never smelt. And I would travel somewhere super exciting every month.
It’s good to surround yourself with a team of people who are honest and don’t necessarily tell you what you want to hear.
ALEXANDRA MIRO
ANY ADVICE FOR THE UP-AND-COMING FASHION DESIGNERS OR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS OUT THERE?
It is a huge generalisation but creatives don’t necessarily have the best business or commercial sense. My husband is really helpful as he has great business experience and tempers my sometimes overly creative flair.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
I define success as being fulfilled. For me waking up in the morning filled with excitement for the day ahead and the innumerable possibilities. Life should be about striving for your goals.
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
Don’t’ rush things. For me this is a hard lesson as I am naturally impulsive and impatient.
AND LAST QUESTION WE ALWAYS ASK: WHAT ITEMS ARE ON YOUR WISHLIST FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON?
I am obsessed by JW Anderson Pierce bags. I’m not a huge ‘it’ bag person but there is something about them that appeals to me. I think it’s the huge gold bullring.
Statement sunglasses are my signature look. This season I’m loving and have already bought Gucci’s square frame acetate glasses. I love the graduated lenses and also the arms with the cute motifs. Gucci have really upped their game in general, I’m loving it all this season.
For clothing nothing beats Zara. More often than not I find I prefer their clothes to the more upscale designer offerings. And I certainly like the price more. I also love Sandro and Maje. This season I’ve already purchased two amazing summer dresses from Sandro.
WEBSITE: ALEXANDRAMIRO.COM
PERSONAL INSTAGRAM: @ALEXANDRAMIRO
BRAND INSTAGRAM: @ALEXANDRAMIROSWIM
