Talk about love at first sight. Once I laid my eyes on Solkissed Swimwear a few years back, there was no other bathing suit I wanted to sit poolside or beachside in. Playful silhouettes? Check. Punchy prints? Check. Bold colors? Check. The brainchild of designer Alejandra Boggiano, this feminine yet edgy brand has it all!
Although Alejandra was raised along the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, CA (like me) with sand in her toes and salt in her hair, she was born in Miraflores, Peru. In fact, she spent much of her childhood in Iquique, Chile. It was there, she first realized her love of fashion, flipping through fashion magazines and circling the outfits she loved, dreaming of one day being able to wear them.
So, after college, Alejandra decided to leave her beach life in San Diego and move to New York City in order to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. There, she attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology.
Wanting to create a line that tied her Latin roots, love of California beaches, and newfound NYC style, Solkissed Swimwear was born. From the beginning, Alejandra relied on the support of her family to turn her brand into what it is today. In fact, she credits a lot of her success to her mother, Ana Maria- Quintana-Gurt, who now works full-time at Solkissed, overseeing production in Lima, Peru.
As if working with your mom isn’t wonderful enough, Alejandra believes in giving back too. Her family-oriented values have remained with the brand as Solkissed maintains a commitment to work with women micro-entrepreneurs. These women not only get to sew from their homes, allowing them to take care of their families, but they receive fair-trade pay for their work as well.
In addition to her website, you can find Solkissed in stores like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Diane's Beachwear.
From her beauty secrets to the best advice she’s ever received, read on to find out more about this talented young swimwear designer now!
My style in 3 words…Relaxed, confident and creative
My nicknames are…Maja- it’s short for my full name Maria Alejandra. Actually, nobody in Peru or Chile where I used to live knows me as Ale or Alejandra. Maja has been my nickname all my life and it wasn’t until I moved to the States that I lost that.
My drugstore must-have is…Toilet paper, lol
My last purchase was…A bagel for breakfast
My top 3 make-up bag essentials are…Chanel Perfection Lumiere, the Sephora Outrageous Curl Mascara and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (i have no eyebrows otherwise)
My beauty secret is…Eyebrows on point, I do my eyebrows even if I decide not to wear make up.
I smell like…Prada
I keep in shape by…Class Pass
My de-stress trick is…Think of the positive in each situation; there must be a reason for it.
My secret talent is…I’m hilarious
My first celebrity crush was…Nick Carter
The music artist who always gets me dancing is…The Biebs
My fashion icon is…Olivia Palermo
My guilty pleasure is…Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and NY, maybe also Atlanta.
Right now, I’m obsessed with…My boyfriend
My favorite website is…solkissed.com :)
My favorite TV show is…Scandal
When I have some free time, I…Drive to San Diego to spend time with my nephew.
For breakfast, I always have…Green tea latte with soy
My favorite restaurant is…La Mar in San Francisco
My ultimate travel destination is…Anywhere with clear waters and perfect weather.
In my career, I am most proud of…Building a strong brand out of nothing.
The best advice I’ve ever received is…Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.
As a swimsuit suit designer, I’ve learned…That confidence is beautiful and it shows. Sometimes the prettiest people are the most insecure.
My goal in life is…To live a simple life, have a happy home and strong business.