Meeting with Hortense Pontabry

Hortense, first of all, congratulations on your first pregnancy! Can you tell us a few words to introduce yourself and your journey?

Thank you very much, my name is Hortense Pontabry, I am the co-founder of Miasun. I trained as an interior designer, then a trip to the other side of the world, to Australia, revealed a clever idea with my friend Valé. Our desire was to offer shade with elegance, we are sorely lacking a pretty, light, practical, and well-made product to shelter from the sun. We developed our DNVB brand for 3 years mainly via Instagram, before meeting Fatboy, in order to partner up forever for production and marketing. Today we have reached 100,000 pieces in circulation on the beaches of the world, the market is international, and we are keeping the Miasun AD, as well as the digital strategy. It's exciting to start in the right place, at the right time, with the right product.


How do you manage preparing for the arrival of your baby alongside managing Miasun?

Miasun experienced an exceptional spike during covid, e-commerce exploded and our product was number 1 in summer 2020. Today our mission is focused solely on AD and the release of next season. We were both able to be pregnant in 2023 and take the time to understand these motherhoods. It's wonderful to get off the ground and relax as we approach this new project: Baby.


You are a successful entrepreneur and soon to be a mother, how do you plan to reconcile your professional and personal life in the future?

I love projects, professional, personal, real estate, travel... so I envision this life as a mother combined with my projects, I in no way want to deprive myself of the life before, it will just evolve, go more slowly at the beginning , and then be increased tenfold. Women today are even surprised by the ability to slash // lots of careers in one, becoming a mother is for me a magnificent hat, I want it to be as important as my entrepreneur hat.


Do you have any plans or ideas for the future of Miasun that you would like to share with us?

Following Miasun, which was a smart beach product, we want to expand the BEACH CLUB range at fatboy, a few products are in the pipeline, but it is rare to find an innovative idea every morning... so work in progress.


As a Parisian, how does living in this city influence your creativity and business?

I love paris. Even though I didn't grow up here, but in the Alps in Annecy, I have always loved nature, the simplicity, the authenticity of the mountains...but Paris brings me all the creative energy I need. Like NYC or Milan where I studied, these big cities are boosters, the dream balance is to reconcile the two, to enjoy Paris while escaping when you want elsewhere in France. It is the movement that is creative, and Paris is teeming with creators in movement, this city is obvious now.


Do you have any top addresses for other future mothers in the city?

I'm a foodie, so Paris is full of superb places to treat yourself, Gramme rue des Archives, Bouche rue JP Timbaud, Grace café for a professional lunch, Ralphs in St Germain, Bread & roses for the best picnic in the park from Luxembourg… Obviously there are a thousand shopping addresses in the marshes or near the Bon Marché. These are my two favorite neighborhoods.


You wore Collection Paloma all summer (thank you!!!), can you tell us what makes you love the models you own so much?

Literally all summer, Paloma makes future mothers beautiful! And that's no small thing to say, our bodies change, comfort is essential, but we're delighted to keep a little style. I have never had as many compliments as when dressed in Paloma, the colors, the shapes, the light material... everything is ideal for shining all summer long. I love all my outfits, I keep them carefully for my future pregnancies, and my friends dream of me lending them ;-)


Are there any rituals or activities that you adopted to prepare for the arrival of your baby while living in Paris?

Rituals… I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years, I think it helps physically and mentally, I hope to be able to quickly reintegrate this morning ritual, followed by a little coffee with a friend. Pregnant, I discovered swimming again, it's absolutely magical, I will come back every week with the baby to swim/drain/rest in the pool.


You are coming to term soon, any advice to give on how to cope well with your pregnancy in summer?

Oops, yes the swimming pool!! I also did Martine de Richeville method drainage during the first and second trimester, it really helped me feel good and it's very cocooning to have a massage ritual every week.

Thank you Hortense and have a wonderful end to your pregnancy!