Salvē emerged slowly, like puzzle pieces dropping into place: a childhood in Italy, third places, good food, smart people, beautiful clothes, soulful homes. Urban gardens, Cape Town, Munich, California. Trade shows, lavender sachets, designers in Morocco, ranches in Colorado. Like a whirlwind in my mind, these pieces of me circled, unsure of quite how they fit together.
I felt like I had already lived many lives, but wasn't seeing myself and my values reflected in many brands. They felt empty, devoid of personality and intrigue.
A few months later I found myself in a coffee shop with my former boss and dear friend, Guy, who had become a mentor to me. He has decades of experience building brands, working with artisans, and putting the beauty of a well-lived life into something tangible.
He was telling me, as he often does, that it was time for me to finally start my own thing. In classic Guy fashion, he wouldn’t tell me what that “thing” was, just that I’d been putting off this dream for too long, and it was time to take action.
And so, just like that, I put pen to paper.
That winter, my sister and I booked a working retreat in Hudson Valley—a dedicated weekend to tackle personal projects and passions. I spent the entire time with a stack of magazines and a pile of books cutting, taping, shouting ideas down to my sister—dreaming up the world of Salvē.
(Before Salvē was "Salvē").
After that, it was just a matter of time and perseverance. I knew I wanted my first collection to be house dresses, an ode to my granny—who was rarely without hers—and something to set the stage for the brand to fill in around it.
Endless trips to the seamstress, textile shows, samples later, I landed on a two designs. Both simple, but each with defining details I loved.
I am so excited to share Salvē with you, and am so grateful you're here.
Xx,
Serena