This is me
My name is Sarah Nele, and I am an apparel designer currently living in NYC. Over the past five years, I have made leaps and bounds into my dream career in the fashion industry.
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My infatuation with design begins around two decades ago, when my grandmother patiently introduced me to the world of patterns and sewing. From that point, I was never able to shake the idea of pursuing a future in design, as the glamour, buzz, and craft of the fashion industry became my beck and call. ​My true foray into design began 10 years ago, when I embarked on my studies in apparel design. It initiated a remarkable journey that superseded my life-long expectations.
Although I have always had a penchant for the creative process of any artistically-related endeavor, I have developed an extensive appreciation for the integral part that dress plays in our day-to-day lives. As an avid learner and connoisseur of knowledge, my time in the industry has consistently offered me the opportunity to analyze how our consumers approach clothing. I have come to recognize that the design process sits at the intersection of accessibility and desirability.
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In turn, this insatiable desire to explore has lead me through the realms of women's, men's, and children's wear. I have been fortunate to work across all categories- outerwear, bottoms- denim and non-denim, tops, and knits- cut and sew and sweaters. While I have spent the better part of the last five years focusing on menswear, I have recently transitioned into a renewed concentration in womenswear. I am keen on welcoming change and rolling up my sleeves to engage with new experiences.
People Join People
I cultivate creativity.
Having grown up around my grandfather's and father's small businesses, I consider myself to be a team player at heart. I personally believe that our career paths are not always about the "what," but the "whom." While my upbringing in the small business environment pushed me to cultivate an unshakeable work ethic, it is the personability and closeness of my coworkers over the past 15 years that have been the most impactful. It is impossible for me to extrapolate meaning and fulfillment without the grounding presence of human connection. Whether it is the trust cultivated in my factory partners, the cooperation owed to my cross-functional teams, or the gratitude developed for my work "family," the people I am surrounded by day-in and day-out significantly shape the work that I put forth into the world.