A South Florida native, Alexandra Grief used her creativity and ingenuity to turn her side hustle into an international brand. With few resources, she started making swimwear in 2009 from her Fort Lauderdale apartment, where friends and customers stopped by for a curated, custom swimwear look that was made to order.
In 2013, Ali opened the first Montce store in Ft. Lauderdale. The second-floor showroom had no street visibility, but it did have a homey charm that felt like an extension of the designer’s studio/store/apartment. Customers — obsessed with Montce’s flawless fit — were more than happy to head there for their bikini fix, and the South Florida swimwear hidden gem would not remain a secret spot for long.
