Island Style

Designing beachwear is how Elinor Alm spreads the good Bequia word.

If your cruise luggage comprises threadbare T-shirts, cut-off shorts, and stretched-out swimwear, it’s time to level up. And engineer-turned-designer Elinor Alm’s Bequia Beach Bums collection — inspired by one of the Caribbean’s least-known yet most charming islands, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines — could be the perfect upgrade.

Reverse Engineering

“I was born and raised in Sweden, where I studied engineering. But after a few years in the steel industry, I changed paths to study business with a specialization in fashion and textiles. I lived all over the world — including in Shanghai and Taipei — but when I met my boyfriend, he took me to Bequia to meet his father, who owned Bequia Beach Hotel. I fell completely in love with the island, and wanted to find a way to combine my engineering background, my fashion industry expertise, and my passion for travel into an enterprise that would promote both Bequia and the hotel. Before I knew it, I was starting a beachwear brand!”

Beach Baby Steps

“In Beach Bums’ first year, I was still working full- time, splitting my focus between two industries. It was tough, but I used my engineering skills to create time- and project- management processes, and my experience in product development was useful for sourcing and negotiating with vendors.

A Bum Is Born

“I’m constantly collecting ideas and inspiration: photos, textiles, fragrances, even bus tickets! I knew from the start that the line would be fun, stylish, and practical, with the finest workmanship. My manufacturing contacts in China help bring my sketches to life, and because we make such small batches — only 50 pieces of each style — it only takes about six months to go from sketch to finished garment.”

What A Bum Believes

“Real beach bums — people who enjoy life to the fullest — are the core of the brand. My customers are confident and don’t feel they have to fit into society’s expectations. If you’re a “silver fox” but want to wear the same shirt as your grandson, go ahead! The best part of my job is seeing someone who’s a little insecure transform the moment they wear one of our pieces. People think fashion is all about vanity, but clothes really can make people genuinely happy!”

More Than A Beach

“We care about the entire supply chain, from the people who make the garments to the people who wear them. Because we produce small batches, we’re able to avoid the downside of mass production, and we support local businesses by donating a share of our profits. Apart from the very limited items we sell online, the brand is only available on island. So you won’t see everyone else in your clothes; we’ve created an exclusivity our customers really appreciate.”

Turning Limes into Limeade

“Working from outside the Caribbean is both a challenge and an opportunity. At home in London, it’s easy to source sustainable textile options and keep up with trends and technology. But my creativity really blossoms when I’m in Bequia; all my patterns come to life there! I consider the brand to be a unique combination of Caribbean color, London trends, and Scandinavian practicality.”

Goals

“My next goal is to make our collections more sustainable — our next swimwear line will be entirely made from recycled materials — and eventually I want to produce everything locally. We’re not there yet, but later this year we’ll be working with Bequia Threadworks, a local sewing training center, scarves.”• to launch a capsule collection of colorful silk and cotton tunics, sarongs, and

BY SARAH GREAVES- GABBADON

Bequia Beach Bums is sold only at Bequia Beach Hotel, Jack’s Beach Bar, and bequiabeachbums.com