Pauline Nicolas

Pauline Nicolas, Designer of the Baie Brune brand

Who are you?

“My name is Pauline Nicolas and I’m 32 years old. I studied fashion design and art in Strasbourg for 5 years. I got my Master’s degree in architecture and colour space. At the end of this Master’s degree, I had the opportunity to join a very large company, which gave me the chance to launch myself into the world of fashion. After that, I gained a lot of experience in major swimwear houses, which enabled me to learn and then launch my own swimwear brand: Baie Brune.”

Can you tell us about your brand?

“Baie Brune is above all women’s swimwear made entirely in France, and more specifically in Troyes. The materials are French and made in Lyon for our Jacquards and Italian for our Jerseys. The Baie Brune brand is steeped in the world of horses, a nod to the brown bay horse that reflects natural elegance. So the Baie Brune identity is really about natural, wild elegance.”

How did this vocation come about?

“I got into the world of textiles because my mother spent her entire career working for a major textile brand in Troyes. It was thanks to her that I got my first taste of the world of style and fashion. Then my professional experiences confirmed my belief that textiles were made for me, particularly my last experience, which was with a major swimwear brand, and which taught me everything I needed to know about the development, materials and specific techniques for this type of product. It’s thanks to these lessons that I was able to launch my brand.”

What stages of the textile production chain do you master?

“I master them all, so that I can see the whole picture. That starts with the choice of fabric, the cut and the pattern. For my part, I make the first prototypes and then I go to the factory where I entrust everything to my pattern maker, who makes the industrial product.”

Why did you choose to manufacture your products in Troyes?

“I think my mother’s career had a big influence on me. She passed on to me her love for the department and I was motivated by the idea of getting local people to work. The close proximity that exists in Troyes between the various players in the textile industry was also a key factor in my decision. Everyone here is on a first-name basis. In the end, it’s an area on a human scale where it’s easy to work together.”

What are your plans for the future?

“My plans for the future are to showcase my brand in the most beautiful places, whether they be French hotel groups or beautiful concept stores. I’d also like to invest in the foreign market, which I think could be very promising for Baie Brune. Finally, as far as everyday life is concerned, I’d like to have a place where all the designers in Troyes can get together to work and pool their experience, needs and skills so that we can go further together.”

Is the Made in France aspect important to you?

“Yes, it’s very important to me because it means we can keep our expertise, our factories, our jobs and keep everything available, because in Troyes we really do have everything, from the garment to the material to the accessories. From A to Z, we can make a textile product in Troyes, so it’s important to keep everything close by.”

Do you have any advice for designers who would like to work in the region’s textile industry?

“The first piece of advice I’d give is to be determined, because there will be difficulties, so you have to persevere and stay the course. My second piece of advice is not to become complacent. You have to stay in a dynamic environment, meet people and not close yourself off because you tend to isolate yourself when you’re thinking about your project, but that’s not the way to come up with great ideas. Despite all that, it’s a wonderful adventure that requires a lot of courage. It’s demanding and difficult, but it’s a real pleasure afterwards.”