Halifax entrepreneur Sarah Andrews recalls that even as a child, she noticed the difference between clothes made of a quality natural fabric and what she typically found in stores.
“I’ve always had a keen eye for detail,” she says. “When I was young, I wanted to surround myself with high quality things.
I would do extra chores all week so I could buy the nicer item. I just felt more comfortable.”
Today, Andrews has her own slow fashion clothing line, Sattva by Sarah, and runs two Halifax boutiques focused on local, quality products.
“As they say, a lot of small business owners are their own customers,” says Andrews, who opened Sattva Boutique on Agricola Street seven years ago, after seeing a gap in the local market. “When I first opened, products made with linen or organic cotton were not easy to find here.”
She opened her second store, Another Shop, on Lower Water Street in July.
“For those who know me from my other business, this is ‘another shop,’” she smiles. “But it’s not the only reason we gave it that name. It also has to do with our philosophy of offering clothes you’ll feel good in, for one reason or another.”
Sarah Andrews
Locally made
Both stores offer a variety of versatile clothing for day or night, along with her signature line, Sattva by Sarah, which she designs herself.
Andrews began working on her line during the pandemic. It now represents about 20 per cent of her product mix.
“I always wanted to make a product specifically catered to our customers, and now we do,” says Andrews, who notes that all Sattva by Sarah fabric pieces are made (cut and sewn) in Halifax.
In addition to her line, Andrews carries several local and Canadian products in her stores, including House of Moda, The Cure Co., and Twigg + Feather.
She describes the style of their products as modern classics that “won’t fall out of favour.”
“I like simple,” she says. “I’m a jeans and T-shirt person. And there’s nothing better than a sweater that’s warm, stylish, and feels good on the body.”
Sattva’s branding includes key words like “conscious, life, modern, and style.” And phrases such as “ethically made, eco-conscious, socially aware, and locally sourced.”
The word “sattva” is Sanskrit, meaning “an intangible experience of wholeness, balance and truth.”
Andrews follows a similar philosophy. She loves learning, travelling, yoga, mindfulness, and teaching.
“It’s not fashion that motivates me,” she says. “It’s something broader. It’s design as a whole and living life consciously and purposefully. Wearing something with a simple design, that fits well and is made of quality natural fibres is not only better for the world, but the wearer will get more out of it.
“We all have to get dressed every day. We want to enjoy what we wear and also understand the impact it has on us.”
She says her products tend to appeal to a “mothers and daughters” market.
With 10 employees, Andrews is proud to offer retail careers in Halifax. Her team shares her values and knowledge. “We all work really hard,” she says.
Originally from Victoria, BC, Andrews moved to Halifax 13 years ago with her partner, who was doing a master’s degree in the city at that time.
“I was less set on my path then and we moved on a two-year trial,” she recalls. “We never went back.”
The couple recently had the opportunity to work together, as her husband, architect Shane Andrews, designed the space for Another Shop. The storefront, with its wall of windows, overlooks Halifax Harbour and the unique atmosphere of the Queen’s Marque.
“The location has been great,” says Andrews. “It’s not just tourists downtown Halifax these days. We see a lot of locals too. The restaurants and local art deservedly draw a crowd.”
ig: @sattvabysarah