Pauline Carter-Saltzmann
Founder · Head of Design · Creative Director
My love affair with fashion and knitwear began in childhood. I grew up watching my mom, Patsy, crochet everything from doilies to bed covers. This time-consuming craft and the attention to detail she put into each piece left a lasting impression on me, and I wanted to create swimwear that reflects that same devotion.
This affair intensified early in my career while working on Moët & Chandon and LVMH brands, which gave me access to fashion’s elite and enabled me to receive priceless advice and inspiration from iconic designers. This led me to begin passionately studying textile science and design thinking, which would inevitably bring me into a space I had dreamt of all my life.
I naturally gravitated towards yarn fibers to create my swimsuits because it allows me to shape it into almost anything. Instead of starting with a finished surface, I am creating the structure itself, which opens many possibilities. In short, it’s like working with clay to an extent; I am constructing the form from the ground up.
Pauline Artisanal Swim Knits is a work of heart—shaped by intention, trust, and the kind of dedication that lives in the details.
Pauline Artisanal Swim Knits exists to reimagine swimwear as expressive, design-led fashion through vibrant statement knit pieces that transitions seamlessly from water to resort and ready-to-wear. Hand-finished by Italian artisans and crafted from sustainably engineered fibers, each garment delivers a sculptural, inclusive fit that flatters diverse bodies while offering an elevated sense of confidence, versatility, and a distinctive sense of self. Guided by a commitment to intentional design, every detail, from silhouette to color, is thoughtfully considered, resulting in a distinctive visual language that is uniquely Pauline.
“I’m inspired not only by the significance of 1960s swimsuits, but also by how they celebrated the female form while still leaving room for the imagination. They were bold, liberating, and made a statement. The remarkable women in my life, who inspired these designs, embody that same spirit. They follow their passions, and make powerful declarations of their own.”
— Pauline
This collection honors those women, and all the multifaceted women who will wear it—celebrating athletic, hourglass, pear, and voluptuous figures for which these swimsuits were thoughtfully considered and crafted to complement.
Pauline presents a visionary approach to modern swimwear and sustainable luxury for a new era of fluid living, moving elegantly across aquatic, leisure, and daywear environments.