"Our idea is to create helpful and durable products that contain a love message about nature, humanity, and the environment."

small-shops: Hello Kotte! Your brand Polaris Hats & Bags has been founded in Santiago, Chile in 2016. What brings you here to Berlin?

Kotte Diaz: Hi, thank you so much for the interview and your interest in Polaris. To be honest, what brought me to Berlin and has led me to know the world is skateboarding. Back in 2016, I owned a skateboards brand named “VL viejas locas” (crazy old ladies), with my good friend Nicol Bob Poblete, a little after this chapter in our lives was over my friend Paulo Borquez that was living in Berlin at that time told me: Why don’t you come here? the skateboard scene and handmade stuff is on fire... And without further ado I assembled my backpack and here I am.

small-shops: What is the idea behind your brand? What inspires your designs?

Kotte Diaz: Spread love! A bag and a hat can be a great adventure partner. Our idea is to create helpful and durable products that contain a love message about nature, humanity and the environment. All of our designs are inspired by the streets and what our surroundings provide to us. The idea is to keep the essence of the raw material and turn it into something completely new and helpful.

small-shops: One of your many beautiful statements is the following: “Each of our items is aiming to create consciousness”. What is the type of consciousness you want people to be aware of?

Kotte Diaz: That we are the owners of our reality and that life can surprise us in amazing ways. Doing what you love and being part of the change, you want to see in the world.

In a consumerist society where everything moves extremely fast, I think it is very important to be aware of the source of the things we consume and the impact that this has on our planet and environment. That’s the idea we want to share through Polaris.

“The world is changed by your example not by your opinion” Paulo Cohelo.

small-shops: It’s very intriguing that you see beauty among people’s trash. What is your vision about fashion waste, and in general about waste? In which ways can it be used to give life to new, incredible, inspiring, and useful products?

Kotte Diaz: Honestly, I’ve never been much into fashion but on the other hand, I am passionate about garbage haha. It is impressive how many waste, contamination and human/animal abuse is behind of the fashion industry. We must know that each time we buy fast fashion, we are contributing to it. We don’t need more new stuff; everything is already done. It is time to reinvent yourself, form and let our creativity fly. I’m very surprised and grateful for the support and interest that people give to my creations. Never in my life I saw myself as a creative person, not until I faced a “zu Verschenken box” in the streets of Neukölln full of colorful clothes of different textures that where trash for someone but for me was the beginning of all of this.

small-shops: You stated that you mostly get your materials from Berlin’s streets, donations from your friends, thrift store shops, and flea markets. How do you feel when you look at the final products, knowing that people would have seen its textiles as trash before?

Kotte Diaz: It makes me very happy and it surprises me every time.

small-shops: How important is it, in your opinion, to make people understand the necessity of eco- sustainable fashion?

Kotte Diaz: It is very important, not only in the fashion industry but in terms of sustainability and circular economy. Supporting your entrepreneurial friend, to prefer upcycled or second-hand clothes, buy to the neighborhood business, transport by bicycle or skate better haha, consuming seasonal food, buying less and choosing better. All of us have needs and different capacities, then look for what suits better to your lifestyle and find a sustainable alternative. We are one and we are strong!

small-shops: What would be your statement addressed to new generations that are more into Fast Fashion?

Kotte Diaz: Fast fashion is the devil, get out while you can!

small-shops: Thanks for all your kind replies and for your time. It is a pleasure to listen to your inspiring stories and visions. Last question: If you could change one little thing in the world, what would it be?

Kotte Diaz: Speciesism and human ideas of superiority.