A Day In The Life Of… Sara Caverley
Ever wanted to step into somebody else’s shoes for the day and see what life is like as a magazine editor, a professional sportsperson or corporate high-flyer..? Well, SHESAID is giving you the closest thing to your very own Freaky Friday experience with our A Day In The Life Of… series.
Sara Caverley, director and designer of Sol Sana Shoes
6am: Having just gotten back from a design and sourcing trip in the USA and Europe I am struggling with major jetlag so I get up and head to a Pilates class. I find that getting the brain and body engaged early helps me stay focused throughout the day.
7am: As a designer deciding what you are going to wear is the last thing you want to think about. I am all about simplicity with a textual twist. Today’s outfit is a Helmut Lang skirt and oversized chunky knit with the Sol Sana Bobbie boot. I keep my beauty regime minimal with tinted moisturizer, a touch of mascara and a splash of Botanica by Balenciaga. Breakfast is essential for me, this morning it is a piece of toast as I’m running out the door.
8am: I need coffee stat. I swing by Bourke St Bakery to grab a long black, a favourite eatery and conveniently located right across the road from our office in Alexandria.
8:30am: When I get to the office the first thing I do is check my ccalender to see what meetings I have on and need to prepare for that day. I then respond to emails I have received over night, mainly from international suppliers, buyer and wholesalers. We work with distributors in Japan, New Zealand, Europe and the UK and distribute directly to Canada, USA, UK and Hong Kong. We also have showrooms in London, Vancouver, LA, NYC, Dallas and Atlanta, and operate 3rd party warehouses in Hong Kong, China, LA, New Jersey and Brussels.
9:30am: I call a meeting with the team. There are nine of us across design, production, logistics and sales. We have just wrapped up selling High Summer in Australia and New Zealand so now we need to make sure production is across all aspects before the purchase order is placed with our factories.
10:30am: Once our meeting wraps up our design team and I lock ourselves in our design room and start piecing together all the ideas and inspirations I noted on my trip. We are preparing for Northern Hemispheres Spring collection so it is vital we nut out all the trends, fabrications and silhouettes. I have a huge storyboard I am always updating with images to insure we are on track with the latest trends. I find music really helps me get in the zone when designing, so I blast some Kim Churchill and start developing sketches, mixing and matching fabric swatches, referencing the High Summer mood board which includes notes from runway shows and retails stores as well as street style photographs, all from my recent trip.
1pm: Myself and brand manager, Dannii, meet with our PR agency Tailor Maid Communications to discuss activity on the account and ideas to launch new season. We find this element really fun, as it is another outlet to explore creative ideas and executions. At the moment we are discussing talent for the High Summer campaign, which is really exciting!
2pm: I have a quick lunch at my desk, an oversized salad while scrolling through fashion news across a multiple online fashion portals. This provides me with up to the minute updates across the globe. I never miss a beat.
2:15pm: Our leather swatches have just arrived from the Sol Sana factory in India. I have been waiting with baited breath for these as each season we create our own customised colourways, so it can be quite nerve racking waiting to see the finished product. Alas, all is perfect!
2:30pm: Back to designing.
4:30pm: I have a phone meeting with our factory in China. We have recently developed a small bag line and need to make sure they are adhering to my designs to ensure product sample deadlines are met. I am very detail oriented so everything must be prefect!
5:30pm: I turn my focus to the Sol Sana X Free People exclusive line. This is a collaboration I have been doing for three seasons now and it works really well for the Sol Sana brand and customer. Free People offers beautiful bohemian clothing and accessories, if your not familiar with it you should definitely check out the website.
7:30pm: Dinner out is on the cards tonight. I know if I go home I will fall into a jetlag coma. Queenies in Surry Hills is the restaurant of choice. Great food and the margaritas are out of this world. Think I will have three in an attempt to stay awake!
10:30pm: Walk through the doors of my Erskineville apartment. Home finally. I make a cup of tea and jump into bead and its one last check of the emails for the day and then I’m out like a light.
