Alumna Arielle Baril Named Forbes “30 under 30” Miami for Rielli Luxury Swimwear

A decade ago, Forbes launched the 30 Under 30 list, spotlighting young world-changing entrepreneurs and innovators across industries in the United States. This year, Forbes took it local. The Inaugural Forbes 30 Under 30 Local List identifies 371 individuals and businesses from 10 cities across North America: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Miami, Puerto Rico, Seattle or Toronto.

Florida Atlantic alumna Arielle Baril ’20, the visionary 25-year-old behind the luxury swimwear brand, Rielli, was recently named on Forbes 30 Under 30 Miami’s list alongside 29 other South Florida entrepreneurs, professional athletes, content creators, medical research foundations, and start-ups in artificial intelligence (AI), biotech, and more. Collectively, the Miami designees are projected to generate about $300 million in revenue by year-end (Forbes).

Rielli, a beachwear and swimwear brand donned by celebrities and featured in high-fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazar, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and others, started while Baril was still an undergraduate studying international business and trade. After going to class and working on campus as a student assistant, Baril spent her free time hand-crafting unique bathing suits for herself, friends, and family. Within just two years, she turned her hobby into a successful luxury brand.

A pivotal shift for Rielli happened in 2021, when a friend and fellow entrepreneur proposed using Rielli brand to help launch her own PR agency, suggesting Baril take a chance and send her swimwear to Kim Kardashian. Within just two months, the Kardashian team requested a large order for the celebrity’s 40^th birthday trip—giving the designer only a week to make it. Soon after the high-level social media exposure, Baril redirected her previous career aspirations to work at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to pursue her passion with Rielli and designing. She has been, in her coined phrase, "keeping it Rielli" ever since!

Baril’s entrepreneurial skills and ambitions emerged early in her life. At a young age, she was taught to sew by her grandmother, a Haitian immigrant. As a teenager, she equated the “Forbes 30 under 30” honor with the pinnacle of success, and envisioned achieving it, writing the phrase everywhere and even drafting social media posts with herself as an awardee. 

Making the Forbes’ 2023 list was particularly gratifying for Baril. While her Rielli brand had already received recognition in popular magazines, articles, and celebrity social media posts, Forbes 30 Under 30 l Miami was a rewarding validation of her work and efforts as an entrepreneur. Baril also credits her success to the support of her family; her parents, for creating space in their home for her first sewing space, or atelier as the artist’s studio is called in French; and her sister, for assisting her with communications and pitching her brand to editors and celebrity stylists.

Beyond the accolades and the hustle of running her business, Arielle finds time to inspire the next generation. Returning to FAU, she shares her entrepreneurial journey with students: “Part of being a successful entrepreneur comes with sharing your passion and wisdom. Being able to speak to  students who sit in the same seats I sat in just three years ago brought me chills. I was humbled and left truly inspired by their questions and motivation,” said Baril.

Dean Daniel Gropper, Ph.D. stated, “It is wonderful to have Arielle come back to FAU. Sharing her experiences is a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn. All of us are proud of what she is accomplishing. We are also proud of the entrepreneurial legacy we have established at the college and university with our previous Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees—Jan Bednar, Shipmonk; Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper, 4Ocean; Hannah Herbst, Beacon—and now continue to extend with Arielle and Rielli.”

Arielle Baril's journey from FAU to Forbes underscores her individual success and serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs within and beyond the university.

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