Five Minutes with Fella;
Paloma Rose Garcia
This week, we were lucky enough to chat with the endlessly inspiring Paloma Rose Garcia.
Paloma is the owner of her eponymous salon, PALOMA — one of Sydney’s best — and is a proud mother to her two boys, Teddy & Charlie. A fierce advocate for climate change and First Nations rights, we sat down with Paloma to talk about life behind the scenes.
Imagery by Paloma Rose Garcia @palomarosegarcia
Lovely to meet you! Please tell us about yourself. What do you do and where do you live?
I live in a quiet part of Rose Bay with my two beautiful sons — Teddy, 13 + Charlie, 8. I do my best to raise my boys in this upside-down world + teach them important values along the way. I run my beautiful hair salon PALOMA in Paddington. We are a team of 17, and we do more than just hair; we care for our community, we care for Mother Earth and run the salon at 98% sustainable, and give back to those who really need our support. I sit on the council for Atelier — The Art Gallery of New South Wales newest foundation, benefactors helping pave the way for the new generation of philanthropy, leaders, art + culture lovers. I care a lot about climate change + cultural injustice.
What is your star sign? This means you are ...
I’m a Pisces. I’m a fish in every sense. I feel somewhat more at home in the ocean rather than out.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I’m sensitive.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Italy. The history, the art, the culture, the landscape, the food, the women + the men!
My number one skincare secret is ...
4L of water every day. Non-negotiable.
What are you currently listening to / reading? (Podcast, playlist or book)
I’m reading Pussy by Regena Thomashauer. Required reading for every woman who longs to step into her power and live with pleasure and purpose. And it’s INCREDIBLE.
Favourite Fella swimsuit this season?
Casanova Top + Hubert Bottom, in Sea Blue and Fudge.
To me, summer feels like ...
Sun-kissed skin at night on fresh crisp bedsheets, juicy delicious mangoes, sweat dripping down my lower back, salty hair, lots of laughs with close friends.
GIVEN THE CHOICE OF ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHOM WOULD YOU WANT AS YOUR TOP THREE DINNER GUESTS?
Patti Smith for her poetic songwriting and view on the world, Virgil Abloh for his incredible creativity and capability with merging pop culture into high-end fashion, Hilma Klint, considered the first abstract artist in the Western world, I’d love to understand her artist's process behind it all.
If money was no object, what would your dream job be?
I’m living my dream job.
Are there any foundations or causes close to your heart?
Arghhhhhh so many! Groundswell Giving: a climate change advocacy organisation raising funds to make fundamental grass root changes. Seed Mob: movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for climate justice with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Sea Forrest Australia run by Sam Elsom, a seaweed farm in Tasmania dedicated to multifaceted climate solutions by reducing emissions. Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation. Just to name a few.
WE NAME ALL OF OUR SWIMSUITS UNDER MALE / UNISEX BIRTH NAMES OR FAMOUS MALE CHARACTERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. IF YOU HAD IT YOUR WAY, WHAT WOULD YOU NAME YOUR NEXT FELLA SWIMSUIT?
They/them. Because gender shouldn’t be of focus.