L'ART DE VIVRE: Designer with a Heart of Gold

100% Cotton, Organic, Delicate, Exquisite Panties

(Somebody is making good use of her thesaurus...)

I was lucky enough to meet Ale through her work at the National Cancer League. I was invited to work with this cause I carry very close to my heart by a mutual friend. I joined her efforts to form a Youth Committee to raise funds and awareness for this wonderful cause. More than two years later, I have been blessed with probably the most gratifying experience of my life and some very special new friends, among them Ale, probably the most generous, selfless person I have ever met. If you are lucky enough to know her background you will understand these qualities run in her family, her mother, sister and grandfather are also devoted to this magnificent cause. The love and hard work they put into it without ever expecting something in return is a rare, inspiring and admirable act of kindness we randomly get to witness in the world we live today.

Ale is full of life, love, creativity, initiatives and energy she channels into whatever she sets her heart on. Whether helping others battling this terrible disease or designing her very own line of lingerie, I admire the passion she puts into everything she does. Her young, fresh, energetic vibe is just contagious. She is a classic beauty, the kind who can wear a vintage dress and pearls like no one else can and own it.

As soon as you walk into her office you understand this girl means business and loves what she does. You'll get a glimpse of her inspiration boards, and will try to make your way through fabric and lace swatches, drying dye samples, panty prototypes, color formulas, and cats...lots of cats. This is were MIELLE was born, and where Ale puts all her talent and energy to work every day, creating beautiful pieces, experimenting with colors, fabrics and designs.

Lovely Talented Designer Alexandra Brugal

Fresh out of SCAD, Ale worked in retail, styling, editorials, but deep down she always knew design was her thing. Lingerie was the natural and smart option for her and her partner and sister, Bea. Every woman wears and needs it yet it is so hard to find comfortable intimates made of quality fabrics and cotton blends, with beautiful and sexy details at accessible prices. It really is a basic, and may I say a segment that has been overlooked for too long by designers and retailers in this town. It has been quite a ride for Ale. You can trust her with the designing part but she has had to learn about the manufacturing part of the process from the very basics, even sewing her first prototype herself!

Her inspiration is seasonal. Her most recent Valentine's Day inspired collection features gorgeous sexy red and black detailing, but her initial Oliva and Bluet collection featured beautiful organic natural earth tones, delicate hues of pink, white, beige, and pastel blues and greens...just dreamy. She'll also find her inspiration in sunny spring or summer days, and where else of course, Pinterest!

This fellow Pinner practices Yoga in her free time to relax and release some stress. When she's not pinning fellow Dominican Oscar de la Renta or Elie Saab designs for inspiration, she'll hang out with hey boyfriend, or she'll knit. Ale has to occupy her hands on anything she confesses, she gifted my daughter with the coolest braided bracelet made by none other than herself!

Mielle is as feminine and sophisticated as the designer herself, but what I love the most about this brand is Ale's passion for and attention to beautiful details. Delicate hand-dyed lace adorns each panty, and the 100% cotton fabric and linings are just so comfortable and feel so natural against your body. You feel beautiful and sexy yet you are not sacrificing comfort or hygiene. Mielle offers a variety of fits: bikinis, boyshorts and thongs in sizes small, medium and large, all in 100% natural breathable cotton.

Up Next? Cotton Tees, PJ's, and loungewear. You had me at cotton!!!