Who we are
“The name Frenchicans started as a family nickname. Growing up as Americans living in France, my mom, sister, and I were affectionately called “the Frenchicans” by our older cousin, a name that stayed with us and eventually felt like the perfect reflection of this project.”
Frenchicans is a brand rooted in family, craftsmanship, and a genuine love of bikinis.
The idea for Frenchicans began over twenty years ago, when my mom, a fashion designer living in Paris, traveled to Bali for the first time and fell in love with batik sarongs, a traditional Indonesian fabric. She imagined swimwear made from this fabric, inspired by travel, culture, and thoughtful craftsmanship, pieces that felt personal rather than mass‑produced. That idea stayed with our family, even as life took us in different directions.
As kids, my sister and I were often wrapped in those sarongs by our mom. We grew up hearing stories about her trip to Bali, using the sarongs as blankets, towels, and beach wraps, and dreaming of one day going there ourselves.
My name is Alice, and the little imp next to me in the photo is my younger sister Grace. Last year, while I was in college in Florida and attending a business seminar, I found myself surrounded by conversations about entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it really means to build something intentionally. Reconnecting with my mom’s original idea felt natural. It didn’t need to be invented, it needed to be brought to life.
Today, Frenchicans is very much a family effort, spanning continents. While I handle the brand and business side from Florida, my family is between France and Bali, working closely with our production partners, sourcing sarongs, developing samples, refining cuts, and working out details. This year, my mom, Marie, and Grace spent two months in Bali working with our manufacturers, sourcing sarongs for our collection, photographing content, and in between spending long days on the beach, exploring, snorkeling, and testing out our bikinis in the sun.
We work in small runs and stay closely involved at every step. Grace takes part in fittings and prototype testing, helping us understand how each piece actually feels on the body, not just how it looks. And Marie coordinates with the manufacturers to ensure our vision comes to life. This approach keeps things intentional and hands-on, allowing us to create only what we truly believe in. Our manufacturing partner and sarong source are also women‑led companies, which makes the collaborations feel all the more aligned with our vision.
Frenchicans is built around the idea that clothing can be both beautiful and considered. The sarongs we use are chosen for their colors and print designs. They are hand silk screened and have slight variations, they’re part of what makes each piece authentic.
We are still small, still learning, and planning on expanding the collection piece by piece. Frenchicans isn’t about chasing trends or mass production. It’s about creating a collection that reflects care, collaboration, and a story that extends beyond a single season.
We’re happy you’re here, at the very beginning.
— The Kelley Girls
