German born, London based eco-entrepreneur, active-wear designer, and yogini, Pauline Hansen is passionate about contributing to a more mindful world. For Pauline, Yoga is more than just an activity, it is a lifestyle. With this in mind, we seized the opportunity to chat with the Creative Director about how she aims to make a difference and why sustainability in fashion is so important. When meeting Pauline you are quite literally intoxicated by her overwhelming energy and enthusiasm. As she showed us her most recent collection titled ‘Moon and Stars’, Pauline’s first statement was “the new collection is all made out of recycled plastics from the ocean.”
All of the fabric in PAMA London’s current collection is sourced from plastic gathered from the ocean and sea around Spain. After the plastic is collected it is woven into a yarn, which is made into a superfluous fabric in Italy. Pauline’s desire to produce high quality and environmentally conscious clothing is at the heart of her brand. “The Issue with fast fashion [is] people just keep on buying and buying and then they threw [the clothes] away,” says Pauline. “It’s better to buy a couple of things that are really nice and then keep them for longer.”
In the past, Hansen’s brand PAMA London had their line manufactured in Los Angeles, however for this new collection, PAMA moved manufacturing to Portugal where ultramodern equipment is able to assist in the creation of the brand’s current line. When discussing the subject of the move, Pauline explains “I moved everything to Portugal because actually the technology is much better there for Active-wear and flatlock stitching.”
Read on to learn more about the woman behind what can easily be described as one of the best active-wear brands on the market.
How did you initially become interested in Yoga and Wellness? And how did that subsequently inspire you to create PAMA London?
“My Mom always took [me and my four sisters to do Yoga] since we were little. My Mom has always been really into Yoga. I decided to do my Yoga teacher training in Costa Rica just for myself to deepen my practice and I learned a lot about the chakras and the energy fields and how it also helps you when you wear [particular] colors; and I thought at least when you practice yoga it’s nice to wear something sustainable, made [mindfully], and eco conscious. I live in London and I’m always in big cities. I live in my PAMA leggings because they are comfortable and you know you run around and it’s important when you practice yoga, or [at least personally] for me it was important because everything that you put on your skin [should be made ethically] and good for your skin and has no chemicals. So I wanted to create something [that is] fit to form because leggings are really high waisted, so they really tuck you in and support you [in] your active lifestyle and for yoga practice. I wanted to create something not only like organic cotton or linen, because [many] yoga clothes [are made from those materials]. All the gurus in India wear organic cotton or linen. I wanted to create something that could be worn in the city and look fashionable.”
What has been the inspiration behind your collections so far?
“So I did my Yoga teacher training in Costa Rica with Marianne Wells Yoga School and we [focused] a lot on the Chakras. So [the Chakras inspired] the first collection, which is made from charcoal bamboo. [My second collection], the Moon and Stars Collection was very influenced by astrology. I’m bringing out new leggings in October, so they are [influenced by] astrology and star alignment. I work with the ECONYL brand, so that’s an organization that cleans up the ocean, they take the plastic from the ocean [and repurpose the materials into nylon which is used in our second collection].”
“The Moon and Stars [collection was inspired by the] love [I have for] the moon cycle and my interest in bio dynamic farming. The cycle of Bio Dynamic Farming and the Moon Cycle [were definitely major inspirations]. I [became] inspired [one year ago] when I was in Tulum because there was an astrology workshop [with] a woman, who spoke a lot about the star alignments. The energy in Tulum is very magical, it is healing.”
We absolutely love that PAMA London is eco-conscious and ethically made. With that said, why do you believe that it is so critical for brands to produce great products that are both environmentally considerate and ethical?
“It really depends on the industry that you are in. If you make flowy dresses or [like my brand PAMA London], it’s really high-performance and activewear with a focus of fitting really well and providing support. [For me] it’s important to use fabrics that are biodegradable for the earth. There are so many things now, it’s like ‘where do you start and where do you stop?’ I think [with] the whole cycle, it’s important to tick all of the boxes [in regards to] sustainable production. So [for me] it’s always [fabric] quality; [the material in the Moon and Stars Collection] is wonderful because it gives great support and is just [all around] such a nice fabric. [Though] even if it’s not a legging, it’s still always about the material. It’s also important to me that there are no toxins in the fabric because eighty percent go straight into your skin [and then] the blood stream.”
What do you believe makes PAMA London stand-out compared to other Active Wear brands?
“It’s important when you produce a product that is [very desirable], especially for me. Selling in London, I think people in the [USA] are more open minded but it is still fit to form and is still fashionable [not to mention] looks nice. I wanted to create something that is young and fun, and not too organic because there are a lot of sustainable organic brands. I see their [products] and it’s nice that they use [organic or sustainable materials] and it’s [also] nice how they produce, but for me personally I would never really love to wear [those products] because I’d like to wear something that looks [stylish] and not too strange. Most of the other eco-friendly activewear brands have very baggy garments made from hemp or [similar materials]. With the Nylon [that I use in my collection our products] are fit to form and really tuck you in very well because all of the leggings are high waisted.”
“We use sustainable recycled fabric. Very few activewear brands are using recycled plastic [in their products]. What is nice about PAMA is that it is a simple and timeless active wear [brand]. [Our pieces] can be worn in the city and are not too funky like many other organic brands that [resemble a] hippy [style], you know? A lot of other brands’ designs are just too hippy yoga. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them in London when I’m running about all day.”
Can you tell us a little bit about the healing colours of the seven Chakras in your collection?
“The Chakra collection is all about the colours and how you are attracted to a [particular] colour each day. Based on the colour that you are drawn to, this is the Chakra that you should work on. It is nice to wear the colour Chakra that you are working on to balance out that Chakra. Each of the Chakra bras come with a booklet that explains each chakra and how each Chakra helps you when you wear the colours.”
“So the bras are made in the colours. The first collection featured all of the colours and now the new Chakra bra is available in two [shades] of blue, green, and violet. The chakra is all about the energy field, so it [always tells] a story. And it is quite like mystical.”
Take us through a day in the life of Pauline Hansen.
“Well, it’s always so different because I travel so much! My parents brought [me and my siblings] up so internationally. In the summer my [family] is always in Germany and then in the winter my family is in the US. But I’m based in London [and] I’ve been there for seven and a half years now. I start my day with morning Yoga because it really grounds me and helps me to set all my intentions. I focus and I feel great with my Yoga practice, it really helps me.”
What is your favorite work-out and how do you find the time to fit it in?
“Well I always do Yoga, [so] I should work-out more. [Aside from] Power Yoga, Yoga really isn’t a workout; it’s more for your mind and your spirit. It’s great to work out – I love going hiking, I love swimming, and I love just being active. I actually [dance] Zumba, [as well]. I love dancing, I used to dance professionally in Germany until I was 19 [years old].”
How do you feel that Yoga has impacted your life?
“For example when you travel, sometimes you cannot do Yoga. But I try to do it every day even if it is just for ten minutes. It really helps me just to ground myself and to have clear thoughts. You know when you’re really stressed out, and you have so many meetings, I just do Yoga and it helps me to [compile] my thoughts and to get to a decision when [I] can’t make up my mind about things.”
“Yoga is really a whole lifestyle. Only twenty percent is on the mat and 80 percent is off the mat. That’s why I also produce the [PAMA London clothing] because I think it’s silly if you just sit there on your mat and then everyone says ‘be mindful, be good to the planet’, and normally people only speak about eating organic and gluten free [as well as] vegan or vegetarian. But then all the yogis don’t really care so much [about] what they wear. [However, yoga] is a whole lifestyle. It’s just as important [as] what you put on your skin and see where it is manufactured. Before I started my brand I was sitting there in my Lulu Lemon outfit and I just thought ‘great, but what I’m wearing was actually produced in Bangladesh’. And now I’m sitting here doing my yoga [and] talking about ‘be good to the earth and mindful to every being’. Like I’m vegan for four years [now], but I’ve been vegetarian since I was 14.”
Being a frequent traveler, what are some of your favorite wellness destinations?
“Actually, I’ve honestly never been to such a special place as [where we are here in Big Sur, California] I’ve traveled a lot, and Big Sur and also [specifically the Post Ranch Inn] is very impressive. The garden here [at the resort] and all of the vegetables they grow for the [restaurant]; the nature is so impressive here. Yesterday I went on a four hour hike and I learned so much! The [giant Redwood] trees are so impressive. I had never seen so much nature in one day, and in one place. You have the ocean and then the forest. I think it’s very special and super magical. [Also, in Big Sur] everyone is so into Yoga.”
“I also love Tulum, especially since there is this healer from Los Angeles – his name is Bobby Klein. I’ve been [visiting] Tulum for eight years, and now because of Instagram everyone is there, so it’s great to visit Tulum off season. Tulum is great because it’s very eco-conscious. Then there is the Yäan wellness spa by Bobby Klein. The Mayan energy [in Tulum] is super healing and they work everything with the Chakras, as well. I think Mexicans are really amazing people, they are so nice! Whenever I’m in Tulum I feel the best because [many] of the hotels are on the beach. You are right on the beach and it’s so nice! You also have the jungle. You can drive around there and visit so many sanitas and healing waters and [natural] springs.”
Is there anywhere that you have not yet visited, but are dying to go and see?
“So [Big Sur] was really on my bucket list. I would love to visit Bhutan to see all of the temples, hike around there, and also visit the Himalayas. I think that is supposed to be really amazing. I’ve also never been to Bali or Hawaii.”
Where to next?
“I want to make sustainable fashion even more accessible to everyone. My dream is to see everyone wearing sustainable fashion.”
Is there anything you’d like to add that you didn’t have the chance to say?
“I’ve already filmed the [PAMA clothing] production, but I am really hoping to share more about our sustainable production and the educational side of things as well. I am going to be starting a blog in October. No one really knows what goes into the fabrics [of most clothing], there are so many toxins and then even if you wash them the clothes still have toxins in there.”
“I think the new generation is so much more aware of [being environmentally conscious] and supporting sustainable fashion. I work with ocean cleanup and they clean up the ocean [from] the plastic. But then you have all this plastic, so it’s great to recycle that into something. It’s a whole cycle! Our packaging is made from organic cotton.”
“In the process of making things, it is not only that vegan is much better and like non-vegan is bad. Because for example, leather is biodegradable. So, I’m vegan, but I wear leather goods. I think natural shoes are much nicer than plastic. One of the worst vegan fashion products is vegan fur, because the process of vegan fur production is so much more polluting to the environment than like buying or wearing an organic fur that [meets] all the guidelines where the animals aren’t harmed that much.”
Where can we follow you?
“We have the @PAMALONDON Instagram and we also have the website.”
Images courtesy of: PAMA London
