Way of life: Eva Shivdasani's vision of slow living

Former top international model Eva Shivdasani, née Malmström, is known more today for her creative input in some of the world's most exclusive resorts. Shivdasani and her hotelier husband Sonu founded the Six Senses and Evason resorts and spas before selling both groups last year. Eva was the creative director, and Sonu was the CEO.

These days, the couple own two resorts - Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, where they live, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand, with plans to open a second resort in the Maldives in the near future.

Life as a model meant the Swedish-born Shivdasani travelled extensively - in the process learning what she did not want from a hotel - while her training in fashion fuelled an interest in interior design.

"I am constantly trying to get new ideas for our new ventures, but I try to always keep a 'red thread', so our guests know they are in a Soneva," she says. "I always prefer to design it all myself and buy as little as possible 'from the shelf'."

Much of the Soneva design philosophy is based on the Shivdasanis' vision of the "SLOW LIFE" - Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wellness, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experience. "It's a way of life, and we hope our guests will turn off their mobile phones and computers, totally relax and enjoy the nature and the calming energy," Shivdasani says. "We grow our salads and mushrooms organically on the island, and only catch sustainable fish ... Being Swedish, I was brought up respecting nature, animals and people, and not to waste any of our resources, water, electricity and energy in general."