Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Puma Swede. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Puma , thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I am a Psychonaut and I love to explore so hence the name Psychonaut Explorer. I discovered psychedelics at Burning Man a few years ago, and they are making a resurgence everywhere now. The explorer part is from my curiosity to discover and try new things, whether it’s new countries, food, or alternative experiences.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The last 11 years I’ve been a bit nomadic and have lived all over the world. I always loved colorful, different, and eye-catching clothes. Often times I look at pieces and think there could be more to them if you only added some fun details. Instead of buying new clothes, I started altering clothes that I had. I painted on then, added patches, feathers or rhinestones and did embroidery on some of them. My specialty is vintage camouflage jackets, They are made to last and they are a lot of fun to decorate. Recently I also made some custom order jackets. Anything I make can be customized. You can send me a pair of jeans you like and tell me what style you would like on them.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I have been quite successful in the adult industry for the past 15 years. I put away money and that is what I’m using now when I need to hire a seamstress or decide that I want to manufacture new pieces. I keep my costs down by buying cool vintage pieces online or at thrift stores and revamping them.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I got stressed that I didn’t sell any pieces at first. I felt that I couldn’t experiment, and that every piece had to turn out perfect. It was hard to find the motivation and keep it fun when it felt like my friends were the only ones who appreciated the pieces. After a mushroom trip I had an insight. I was able to shift my thinking from this venture as purely a business, to approaching it more like a hobby. That put the fun and creativity back into it. I told myself it was OK if pieces failed, it is more important that I try new things and keep it interesting. About 3 years later, by coincidence, I met a lady with a store. She loved the pieces and has now started selling them and it has gone well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.psychonautexplorer.com
• Instagram: pussitive_
• Twitter: PsychonautExplorer
• Other: My personal IG – @thepumaswede