What started out as a pop up in my friend Sam’s shop has become a permanent fixture over the last few years.
Sam is not his real name, it is Savva, but when I met him 30 years ago he introduced himself as Sam, so Sam he is for me.
He has a shop in West End where he does made to measure and alterations. This summer he also making some pieces for the shop. When I am in Australia I sew casual, everyday clothes, suitable for our long hot summers. Sam is a clever designer and he is doing some excellent pieces this season.
This is a stunning leather jacket he made a while ago for a fashion competition. He is going to repeat this soon in denim.
In the meantime here is a collaboration between the two of us. Sam made the skirt in embroidered linen and I made the top.
Here is a small selection of pieces for the coming season.
We also make tablecloths and table napkins.
For all those who want to know who made their clothes, and want well made pieces in natural fabrics, come and see us. I have been making my own clothes for most of my life so I know they wash and wear well and last for years. Sam was taught by his lovely Mum and has also been sewing since he was very young.
I gather fabric when I travel and have excellent finds from Italy, Finland and Japan, as well as locally sourced fabrics. I look for ends of lines and dead stock to help keep prices down. I have an excellent source for these outside Florence and I go there several times a year.
For anyone in Brisbane who likes to sew, we have one of the best fabric shops in the world right here. I have been shopping at Alla Moda (in the Emporium shopping centre, in the Valley) for 40 years and they have the best range of fabric I have seen anywhere.
Sam’s shop is called Sarva and it is at 239 Boundary St, West End. It is between Gum Bistro and Alphabet Cafe which are both extremely good, and popular. When I am in Australia I am in the shop most days. When I go away the shop is still open, but Sam is often in the back of the shop sewing so you need to ring the doorbell.
Fast fashion contributes to enormous waste and tons of landfill. Buy better, buy less and shop local!
We have an Instagram page called What’s new at Sarva.