Meet Arielle Baril, the founder of the swimwear brand Rielli, based in Miami. She started the company in 2019 as a side hustle while living in Florida. She has since grown the business to become one of the top brands in America. With no funding, she began the journey with her grandmother, who first taught her how to sew.
“I started making swimwear about one year ago with my grandmother. I did not have much to start with and I decided to get my very own machine after a few months,” she told Voyage MIA. “After practicing, I knew I was ready to launch a small brand. This small brand turned into my second job and I’ve been doing this since I started.”
The journey began when she sewed swimwear for herself and then posted them on her social media handles and received inquiries and feedback. This got her thinking and eventually decided to put her business degree and love for fashion to use. “I knew that my business education could help me start my own successful swimwear label,” she told Pooch.
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Rielli prides itself on being an ethical swimwear brand in the whole of Miami. Everything is made to order and the brand does not overproduce, the founder said, adding that they produce when they have a sale. What also sets them apart from other brands is that everything is made in-house. Although swimwear is the main focus, the brand also offers flattering dresses, she told Pooch.
Baril was inspired by her desire to bring fresh, innovative designs to the industry. And like many black entrepreneurs, the journey has not been easy for her. According to her, she has faced many challenges.
One of her significant hurdles is staying on top of everything and consistently meeting deadlines. While delays are inevitable sometimes, she noted that her team continues to persevere while learning from each setback.
“As a young entrepreneur and designer, my career path has been full of exciting and unexpected moments,” she told Pooch. “There are times where I have to overcome an obstacle, but there is always a solution to every challenge I face. I surround myself with positivity and always dream big and beyond what I see in front of me.”
The budding entrepreneur was recently featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Miami. According to Forbes, she is set to hit $150,000 in revenue by the end of the year. What is more, she has sewed for more than 4,000 customers across the U.S., South America, and Europe. Her brand even got an endorsement from members of the Kardashian family.
