Artist Sara Anderson has at least 2,000 designs on her computer. They are designs she has painted or drawn over the years, inspired by nature and her travels. Whether strolling through her own garden or touring the gardens of Venice, Anderson expresses the images she finds first as paintings and later as textile creations.
Her goal is to surround herself with beauty and make sure her clients have the same opportunity. The custom clothing, accessories and home goods she designs are prized for their usefulness as well as their allure. “I take in the beauty and add my two cents, re-creating a design in my own voice and then taking that artwork and turning it into a product,” says Anderson, whose oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings are the basis for the bespoke scarves, robes, kimonos, table linens and more that she creates for her clients. “I like to say it is art coming off the wall. By integrating art into our everyday lives, we can always be surrounded by beautiful things.”
She finds herself solving a dilemma for many of her clients. “I think all of us can relate to having that person in our lives for whom we do not know what to buy them as a gift,” she says. “We want to find something special and unique but that is also of the highest quality. By working with clients and listening to their ideas, I can paint customized artwork and turn it into something such as a silk robe imprinted with that special design that a client cannot find anywhere else.”
Imagine having your very own design theme for your wedding or special event. Anderson and her team are often commissioned to design and manufacture custom packages for brides and homeowners. Brides may bring Anderson and her daughter, Sallie Anderson-Plessala, who also is a partner in the brand, inspiration photos. From there, the mother-daughter duo comes up with a mood board based on a custom-painted piece of art created specifically for the bride. “We may isolate a small part of the painting to serve as the design for printed collateral and textiles, such as wedding and shower invitations, save-the-date cards, silk robes for the bridesmaids and pocket squares for the groomsmen,” Anderson says. “We end up with a full bridal package. Everything starts from that one painting or drawing that inspires all of the event accessories.”
The packages also are available to homeowners who want compelling, one-of-a-kind table linens and invitations for a signature event, like a home tour or a special party. Imagine a fall garden party with a tablescape made up of a tablecloth and napkins in a custom colorway and design that no one else can replicate at a local retailer. “I especially enjoy collaborating with my clients on customized packages by listening to what they love and turning it into things that are useful and beautiful,” Anderson says.
Anderson schedules appointments in her shop for those who need a little more in-depth assistance in choosing a gift. “Many husbands want to buy something special for their wives but have no idea where to start. We can bring out designs for them to see and shop in privacy and provide that one-on-one assistance as needed to select a piece of clothing that can’t be found anywhere else,” she adds.
For those who aren’t hosting an upcoming special event, the Sara Anderson brand sells a wide variety of styles of custom-printed, wearable art in the form of accessories such as scarves and robes for everyday luxury. “These are all based on my personal painted designs and are perfect for a gift or to buy for yourself because you’re worth surrounding yourself with beautiful things that speak to you,” Anderson says. She produces her clothing and home goods in a variety of natural materials, such as silk, satin, cashmere and cotton, while answering customers’ needs for different price points. They may purchase a particular customized scarf in silk, for instance, which Anderson also produces in cotton at a lower price that is suited for the warmer days of summer and fall to chase away the chill of an overworking air-conditioning unit.
All Sara Anderson creations are produced in limited editions, which make them extra special for collectors. If a shopper stumbles upon a silk robe or scarf on the atelier’s online shop that happens to be marked as a sale item, it’s time to swoop in and buy it. Any markdowns are a clue that an item is nearing its retirement and won’t be produced again. After all, Anderson has thousands of other designs to serve as the basis of new products, with more added every day. “I have five paintings on my easels right now. Plus, I love to travel, and my trips give even more inspiration for new designs,” she says. Her Venetian Mirage robe, for example, was inspired by her visit to the city’s Italian gardens. The Burano Jasmine scarf expands on the Venice theme with a representation of the city’s fragrant jasmine blossoms reflecting and dancing on the blue waters of Burano’s canals. The Simone robe features a beach landscape filled with memories of the salt air and sandy shores on St. Simons Island, where Anderson and her family enjoyed many moments together. Like much of her loungewear, it is further customizable in three types of material—silk satin, silk cotton or cotton.
Other design ideas are ignited closer to home. The Cornflower robe is a spin-off from the custom invitations Anderson painted, designed and printed for her daughter’s wedding. The design features pale blue cornflowers with intricate details that reflect her daughter’s personality and style. “We fell in love with it and knew that it had to be a robe, too,” Anderson says. The Autumn Maple robe for fall draws on the rich, warm hues that are characteristic of autumn leaves. Capturing the essence of the changing landscape and the crispness of the air, the robe’s colorway of burnt orange and golden yellow dances like falling leaves in the breeze of a cool fall day.
Anderson finds herself leaning in a bit more to seasonal offerings and is excited to announce the availability of a Christmas package: Madonna of the Pomegranate. “I began with a simple study of pomegranates. From there, I designed a robe pattern. Inspired by the Renaissance painter Botticelli, I watercolored my own interpretation of his painting Madonna of the Pomegranate. This art shows up in our beautiful packaging to ensure this is a gift unlike any other,” she says. The Christmas package includes a velvet robe of rich reds and golden highlights, a matching sleep mask and a pouch sized for tucking away the mask when not in use or holding a cellphone. The Madonna of the Pomegranate package makes its appearance in mid-October and will be available for purchase through the end of the year on the shop’s website.
Anderson wraps her experience and background into a successful, woman-led entrepreneurial company that is moving her team forward in the business world while providing opportunities for her clients to own functional, affordable art. Her collection is a tribute to the beauty found in every corner of her life, crafted with the finest materials and an incredible attention to detail. “I am always in awe of beautiful things and want to bring those to people so they also can appreciate them,” Anderson says about her many designs. “There is no scarcity of beauty to capture for our everyday lives to help make each moment special.” *
Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art.