Born in 2022, Club Orangée is all about a short circuit. Designed in the city of Lyon, swimwuits are all produced in the surrounding Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, using mostly recycled fabrics. Short circuit also apply when it comes to wearing the pieces, which women sport from the beach to the nearby bars, seduced by the practicality and elegance of their edgy monogrammed jacquard. A keen observer, Pauline Barbain infuses her collections with that extra touch of fashion and has already caught the eye of European customers.

Tell us about your DNA and your approach to fashion.

Club Orangée is 100% local, made note only in France but in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region too, near my home town of Lyon. We intend to stay as local as possible – my supplier is based 30 minutes from the city and nothing is produces further than 200 km from the office !

Was it difficult to put this commitment into practice ?

It surely doesn’t come without a cost and a premium positioning. We’re in a very industrial region, particularly when it comes to textile, so setting up production was quite simple. However, we had to find a few tricks to keep it 100% local. I ended up sourcing the acetate buckles from a local eyewear manufacturer.

Does this positioning also impact your design process ?

There are certain things we can’t do because they would require too many complications and costs. We stick to pretty classical styles in a limited range, but it actually makes our customers more loyal to us. Our all-over jacquard pattern is a good example of that, because it has a very trendy look. We’ve noticed that women also wear it as a bodysuit after the beach, which wasn’t necessarily planned.

Has this informed your creative evolution ?

It has ! From the very beginning we’ve reached forty-something women who like fancy one-pieces with pretty halter tops, and want to keep them on when they go out for drinks. Seeing the way these women appropriated our swimsuits obviously lead me to that direction.

What does Curve Paris and Who’s Next bring you today ?

My goal is to renew with our first clients and to meet new prospects – ten stores would be ideal. Who’s Next offers real value in terms of traffic. We have a better chance of reaching concept stores and European stores, which is perfect as I have a strong following in Switzerland and Belgium.

In addition to these prospects, it’s also nice to strengthen our bonds with other brands. It’s reassuring to observe what the global network is up to and to see that we all often face the same issues.