. Bogota-Paris-New York, Albuquerque-Tokyo-Bengaluru, Los Angeles-Rishikesh-Barcelona. Life is the road between where you have been and where you would like to get to. Where are you now?


My now is Barcelona, my present. I was born in Bogota, Colombia 46 years ago. At 16 I went to live in Paris with my older sister, where I worked for a long time in the fashion world as a model, I traveled a lot. I took the opportunity to see the world and spent long periods of time in different cities: London, Tokyo, Miami, New York; living and working. Finally I moved to New York where I lived for 7 years.



. A culturally restless and committed citizen of the world. Everything changed, except Paula. You went from being portrayed to portraying, from exposing yourself to explaining yourself, from fashion to NGOs…


Yes, I have always been interested in the visual arts, painting, photography, theater... in New York I studied photography at The International Center of Photography, an institution dedicated to photography founded by Cornell Capa, Robert's brother, to defend “committed photography”, images with a social and political mentality that can educate and change the world. I took theater courses, and we created a foundation to help children in vulnerable situations in Colombia, Foundation for a New Dawn.



. Do you get to know better oneself by traveling or in silence?


After 7 years in NY, I decided to go to study Ayurveda in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I lived there for a year, studying with the great Dr. Lad, I did a course of vipassana meditation in the line of Goenka. Those were 10 days in silence that marked me deeply. When I returned to NY I decided to definitely leave the fashion world and continue studying in India. I arrived in Bangalore where I had found a yoga therapy course, yoga applied to medical treatments. I then went on to Rishikesh to study more Vedanta before returning to Europe.

My sister had recently arrived in Barcelona, where I decided to stop and visit her, it was 2004.


. Ten days in silence, a transforming inner journey. And then, next stop Barcelona. Another journey in which you are still immersed.


Ten days of silence bringing the 5 senses and the mind, all attention directed inward. A rare exercise in a world that wants to distract and entertain us more and more, having my attention inside was revealing. Not receiving information, not reading, not talking to anyone allows you to hear your voices and know yourself deeply with a clarity that has guided me ever since. The connection I have with that space where mental processes slow down, sometimes stop, the ego moves away and you see yourself from an equanimous point is my anchor ever since.

In Barcelona, about 14 years ago I started directing a foundation called Niños del Mundo, of the Tragaluz Group. I helped Tomas Tarruella co-founder of the Group not only in the foundation but also in artistic projects for the premises, ideas for vegetarian recipes or experiences.


. Is that where Paula the restaurateur and Les Filles Café emerged?


I was learning about the restaurant business. After a while I was proposed to become a partner of the Gallito, a restaurant in front of the beach in Barcelona and later I participated in the creation and conceptualization of the Green Spot, a vegetarian restaurant with seasonal products.

About 9 years ago I met my partner Tamsin at the Gallito and all that road brought us to Les Filles.


. Les Filles is an urban oasis of silence and calm that transmits sensitivity and care in every detail.


Les Filles brings together what we love as an experience: nature, delicious flavors of the world, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, aesthetics and simplicity.


. All Day Long is our tagline. Clothes for all day long and for whatever the day brings. What is your day to day?


Getting up early, getting the girls up and ready for school, then I go to yoga, practice Mysore in silence. One day I go to oil painting or visit my acupuncturist, then I work: I go to Les Filles or one day a week to Chandigarh Café, another nice project I have. In the afternoon I accompany the girls to extracurriculars, then home, dinner, try to meditate when I put the girls to bed, read a book and go to bed.


. Where does Paula find her silence?


I try to remember silence in my daily life, serving a coffee at Les Filles or doing some everyday action... If not I have yoga, meditating, in silent retreats, contemplating nature. At the sea.

 

You move around the city by bicycle; You cultivate introspection and reflection, You put your soul and care in everything you do... you are very silenciosa. We would love to reconnect with the Paula model. What is the most appetizing piece to wear from . SILENCIOSA?


The Blazer, with no dubt, a classic and elegant garment, timeless, always combinable, if you add to this that it is very comfortable it is a very versatile piece. I like the khaki color and its muted green tone that transmits me calm.


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