With a stunning flagship store in Bali’s famously fashionable neighbourhood of Seminyak, and pieces sold island-wide and in premium summer destinations around the globe, AANOUKIS Swimwear transcends fashion. Bridging Bali’s tropics with an elegant, European flair, this island-born brand strives to empower women through its style and story.
Founded in 2015 by French national Alexandra Adamiak, the brand has grown and evolved over a decade. Offering a go-to look for those luxurious moments in Bali, AANOUKIS was born out of a desire to give its wearer confidence and a sense of power, embodying the divine goddess that inspired the brand. NOW! Jakarta speaks to the inspired founder to delve deeper into the brand, her journey and how fashion yields the capacity to empower and uplift.
Alexandra, tell us about the early days – how did this brand come to be?
Two decades ago, I first set foot on the enchanting Island of the Gods, Bali, and was instantly captivated by its spellbinding atmosphere and the rich tapestry of Balinese culture. The island’s serene spirituality, harmonious connection with nature, and the warm and welcoming spirit of its people makes Bali feel like a sanctuary where I could truly be at peace.
Hence after years of commuting between the island and France, I finally took a daring leap and embraced a new life in Bali. This island inspired me a lot of of well-being and self-confidence for women. To let our femininity and inner radiance glow through confidence and elegance.
Traveling to many places and living in Bali certainly opened my eyes to body positivity and women empowerment. Loving the beach life here, I realized I can channel that to my own designs in order to make women feel beautiful and shine like a goddess. I merged Bali’s tropical allure and the chic sophistication of European luxury summer destinations like St. Tropez, Ibiza and Mykonos. Thus, AANOUKIS Swimwear was born. It was established in 2015, and as the brand’s creative director I always try to blend my vision with the vibrant spirit of this adopted paradise I call home.
With fabulous results too… That certainly took courage to take such a leap of faith, a real testament to female entrepreneurship. So what is the vision behind the brand?
AANOUKIS Swimwear is a celebration of femininity through elegance and sophistication, reaching women around the globe. The brand takes its name from Anoukis, the Egyptian goddess and daughter of the sun god, Ra. So through the brand and all the pieces, we aim to present this visual of a ‘divine goddess’, beautiful and proud, powerful yet elegant. We hope to channel this through to all the women who wear something from AANOUKIS.
This celestial inspiration is reflected in our first concept store here in Bali as well, named ‘AANOUKIS: The Temple of Elegance’. I don’t believe we are simply selling swimwear, my mission through fashion is to champion self-confidence, body positivity and a celebration of femininity in an elegant way.
Of course, this must all be visually portrayed through the design of every piece. Our designs are captivatingly elegant, featuring unique details and that set us apart from other brands. They exude femininity, and are flattering for women of all body types.
Rooted deeply in the vibrant spirit of Bali, AANOUKIS is committed to ethical and sustainable practices. The brand carefully selects suppliers who uphold high standards of environmental responsibility and support talented Balinese artisans. By using eco-friendly materials and fostering a safe working environment, AANOUKIS strives to create a fashion label that is as conscientious as it is glamorous.
Now, as impressive as any entrepreneur might be, we all need a team. Tell us about the great team that makes AANOUKIS what it is today.
Over the many years I have been lucky enough to cultivate a warm, supportive community that are well and truly my “Bali family”. We’re not only a team, or colleagues, each and every one of the people at AANOUKIS is an integral part of my journey and indeed AANOUKIS’ journey too. The talented female artisans and seamstresses have brought this shared vision into reality.
I understood from the beginning that the situation here in Bali is different, of course. Women must balance many responsibilities with family and also ceremonial and community duties. So, I have provided them with sewing machines to enable them to work from home, which means they have that flexibility to balance their professional and family lives whilst still contributing financially to their households.
With then, this idea of a ‘divine goddess’ becomes more than just a brand, it’s infused into each AANOUKIS piece they create with devoted love and passion. Letting their energy of femininity translate to every collection and shine through everyone who wear it.
We imagine that with any fashion brand you must always be on your toes thinking of the next collection. Can you share with us the latest from AANOUKIS?
Of course! Our most recently released collection is ‘S24/25 SUMMER GLOW Collection’. This collection is inspired by the chic elegance of St.Tropez and the exotic allure of Bali. It epitomises subtlety, elegance, and femininity with vibrant colours reminiscent of the sea, sunset, and sun.
These elements all come together: you can find gradation colour of the glimmering ocean, sunset sky, soft hues of the sun, and waves hitting the beach sands. The use of whimsical accessories, intricate fabric techniques, detailings, and not to mention the fabrics and materials in various textures with an amazing feels on-skin are our commitment to ensuring world-class quality. In fact, we have had to find specialised fabric printing… AANOUKIS is found in some of the most trendy, luxury summer destinations, so we keep our standards very high to ensure that this Bali-based brand shines even on a global stage.
What’s extra special about this collection is that it extends to menswear as well. Carefully made using only the best materials from Italian nylon lycra and Linen, cozy terry cotton, beautiful crinkle silk, and breathable fabrics with a super-soft hand feels, all pieces are uniquely made with a flattering cut and versatile designs for either casual workday, lounging at the resort, or even a dressy summer event.
As a tropical island destination, Bali certainly has its own style and tastes. Does the appeal of AANOUKIS extend beyond island life and summer destinations?
Absolutely. What I’m really looking forward to is spreading our wings to a big city in Indonesia, starting in Jakarta. It may not have a reputation for it yet, but Jakarta is seriously fashionable, and really every day there can be a runway show with so many fashion-conscious individuals emerging and daring to show their authentic selves through style.
I believe AANOUKIS would offer something entirely different in Jakarta, as a luxurious Bali brand with a French designer. Of course, big city fashion often centres on big-name brands, but to really stand out in the crowd one needs something more bespoke, more boutique. That’s where we come in. Our unique design, made by Balinese artisans, is sure to turn heads. For women who are independent and confident enough to make a statement, AANOUKIS will help them shine. This also aligns with AANOUKIS’ value for high-quality products created by Balinese women to receive love and shine like a goddess everywhere they go, whether that be in Indonesia or around the globe while they are traveling.
We couldn’t agree more! Finally, for those looking to channel this divine energy themselves, where can they best browse through the AANOUKIS collections?
As already mentioned our concept store in Seminyak – ‘The Temple of Elegance’ – is certainly somewhere we invite discerning shoppers to explore. However, we have some premium retail partners across Bali as well, including ANDAZ Bali by Hyatt, The Legian Bali – Seminyak, Finns VIP Beach Club, not to forget an exclusive summer pop-up in Sundara Beach Club at Four Seasons Resort Bali from June – September 2024.
Over the years we’ve also established some milestones by partnering with 5-star resorts and luxury beach clubs in trendy places all over the world. Started from St. Tropez, Ibiza, Mauritius island, Dubai, New York, St Martin and more.
Alexandra, thank you for your time – we look forward to seeing AANOUKIS donned by the fashion-forward women here in Jakarta!
You can explore AANOUKIS’ collection of elegant swimwear and sophisticated resort wear on their website – find that piece that will make you feel like a goddess.
AANOUKIS
Jl. Kayu Aya No. 7a, Seminyak, Bali
+62 812 38928832
IG: @aanoukisswimwear
aanoukisswimwear.co.id
