Pauline Carter-Saltzmann
Founder · Design · Creative Director
My love affair with fashion and knitwear began in childhood. I grew up watching my mother crochet everything from doilies to bedcovers. The time-consuming care she put into each detail made her work extraordinary. For me, it’s always been about the detail, and I wanted to create swimwear that reflects that same devotion.
Naturally, I gravitated toward yarn as my material of choice.
But knowing what I know about how these fibers are produced, I instinctively began to question how to create a product that could help reduce our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. The principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle became the foundation of my vision.
The union of these values led me here, and Pauline Artisanal Swim Knits was born. This was a work of heart—shaped by intention, trust, and the kind of dedication that lives in the details.
At Pauline Artisanal Swim Knits our mission is to create vibrant, playful, stand-alone swimsuits, hand-finished by Italian artisans to be worn and enjoyed both in and out of the water. We’re equally committed to designing and shaping swimsuits made from sustainable, unconventional materials that embrace and flatter the diversity of our bodies. Staying true to our values meant making intentional choices—even down to color. Creating our own became a natural part of the process. At Pauline, we’ve done just that.
“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 meets the future of sustainable fashion with innovation,
emphasizing quality over quantity and timeless style built to last.