Meet the Founder
Sarah Bannerman Andrews
Do you have any daily rituals?
Coffee first thing is a must! Just the one lasts me all day. Twice a week I do pilates & run (always first thing), date night with my husband once a month (my favourite date is a nordic circuit) & I still read my boys a book and snuggle every night. Also, I have to admit, I do check instagram every night before I go to bed.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be patient, be present, try not to sweat the small stuff - life just gets better!
What is your favourite piece of clothing and why?
Jeans, I live in them. Dress ‘em up, dress ‘em down. One perfect pair can do so much. That’s my style. 2nd favorite, a white t-shirt.
Why did you decide to start a business?
It was really a matter of circumstance, passion, and events. Life led me in that direction, and I followed! I never actually planned to open a retail shop, although it was so natural for me to do.
Why did you choose to focus on fashion and design?
Did you know that the garment industry is the second biggest polluter in the world, next only to the oil industry? No … I didn’t either. Being a consumer myself, that information didn’t sit very well with me.
Not all production is bad but “Fast Fashion” is a major issue, for so many reasons. This type of mass-production is filling landfills, causing labor exploitation issues, and in my personal opinion, teaching the younger generations not to value anything, and that everything (including clothing) is disposable. This is not the way I want my children to grow up. I want them to care for their belongings, work hard to get things they really want, and to value their belongings.
What are you most proud of?
We started an in-house line: Sattva by Sarah in 2021, it began with 5 linen pieces. I designed styles that were missing from what our suppliers offered, but I knew our customers needed. We now have about 20 styles plus a knitwear collection that I design and have produced in Peru. Our customers keep coming back for it - I think that’s pretty cool!
We also opened a sister store in July of 2022, it’s called Another Shop, located on the Halifax waterfront in the Queens Marque. I’m very proud of this shop too and how it completes our little triangle of operations.
What motivates you?
Many things! And many people! I’m driven by the people I get to work with, the success we’ve created, and the positive impact that change has made.
The motivator to keep moving forward with Sattva and its pillars is the power of conscious consumerism and human connection! It’s not just about looking good but also feeling good about your decisions and your power as a consumer.
Getting dressed in the morning should be a positive experience, you do it every day! Why not make it pleasant? When a woman uses fashion as a means of matching her outside to her inside, she is comfortable, confident, and at ease. She feels at home in her own skin, and she glows, putting forth the best version of herself.
Getting to be a part of that multiple times a day is pretty rewarding.
Who has been the most influential to help you establish your business?
My whole staff, past and present, each one of them has taught me so much and contributed to the development of our brand.
Who couldn’t you live without?
My team right now is stronger than ever, I am so grateful to have them and super excited for the year to come.
And to our customers! Without them we wouldn’t exist.
Who would you like to thank?
My whole family near and far, for their years and years of support.
My son Lochlan for showing up in the world and giving me reason to re-design my life this way. My baby Alex - he’s so determined, he never gives up, he inspires me every day.
Most of all to my husband Shane for the time he has dedicated to my projects as architect, for his patience with me as an entrepreneur, for his unconditional love and support, but most of all for his infinite belief in my ability to succeed. He believes in me so deeply, him believing makes me believe and onward we go …
