Ten years ago—right around this time—I decided to bring the name Poledancerka to life. I created Facebook and Instagram profiles, ordered my very first batch of 100 black knee pads, and pressed “start” on a journey I could never have imagined would grow into what it is today.
But the story of Poledancerka began long before the name ever existed.
Where It All Truly Began
Years earlier, when I joined a Sensual Pole Dance class at T Spot Studio in Ljubljana, I faced a challenge. An old knee injury (a story involving a bachelorette party gone wrong—but that’s for another time!) made floorwork extremely painful.
Traditional volleyball knee pads weren’t an option. They were bulky, uncomfortable, and definitely not pretty.
Luckily, sewing had always been my hobby. One day, I sat down and made myself a pair of knee pads I actually liked—comfortable, functional, and beautiful.
At the time, knee pads weren’t popular at all. The common belief was that “your knees should get used to it.” For years, I was the only person in the studio wearing them. But I didn’t care—I needed them, and they worked.
From Three Pairs to the First Big Order
In early 2015, one of the instructors asked if I could make knee pads for three of her students. So I did. All three pairs were sewn by hand. I’m not a professional seamstress (I actually have a degree in tourism and marketing!), and each pair took about three hours—but I made them, sold them, and unknowingly created my very first mini-batch.
Later that same year, I visited Mademoiselle Studio in Ljubljana to try a more sport-style pole class. Before I even mentioned my knee pads, the studio owner noticed them and said:
“We’d like to order 20 pairs with grip. Can you do that?”
Without hesitation, I replied:
“Yes. I’ll find production.”
And I did.
By the end of that year, I ordered my first 100 professionally made pairs. My dream business was slowly becoming real.
But the universe had bigger plans.
The Post That Changed Everything
I sent one pair of knee pads to Maddie Sparkle, simply asking for her opinion. Instead of just giving feedback, she immediately posted a video wearing them.
Orders started coming in—fast.
At the beginning of the following year, I received my first wholesale order from Hong Kong. That was the moment I realized this was no longer a small hobby. This was becoming something real.
Ten Years Later…
And just like that, here we are—celebrating 10 years of Poledancerka.
Over the years, the brand grew far beyond knee pads. I expanded into pole wear, introduced new collections, experimented with materials, and developed unique designs. Today, Poledancerka is recognized worldwide for its high quality, originality, and style.
It is also no longer a one-woman show.
Behind Poledancerka is an incredible group of people who have worked with me throughout this journey—production teams, designers, social media managers, accountants, administrators, photographers, and many other helping hands. Their dedication, creativity, and support are a huge part of what Poledancerka is today, and I am deeply grateful to every one of them.
But Above All—My Instructors
What I cherish most from these ten years are the instructors I’ve worked with along the way. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to stay connected to the sport that started it all.
That’s why I wanted them to be part of the anniversary photoshoot. It felt right to celebrate with the people who helped shape Poledancerka from the very beginning. What makes me happiest is that we’ve all stayed in touch throughout the years.
Thank you for being part of this story.
If you have any questions, want to know more about the early days, or are curious about the behind-the-scenes of Poledancerka, feel free to reach out.
With love,
Aleksandra
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