Tell us about your background:

I was raised in South Florida by a family of designers, so my creativity was nurtured from a young age. I was accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design and knew right away I wanted to pursue apparel. At RISD, I spent countless hours at their museum, breathing in works from Degas, Neel, and Rothkos. As a result, my work largely focuses on concept, color and volume. I was lucky to have the chance to work at Rosie Assoulin on design development during my college years. My work with her, along with a penchant for luxurious materials and whimsical silhouettes, informed my avant-garde thesis collection.

When I graduated, I moved directly to New York City to jumpstart my career in apparel. I started out freelancing at Sally LaPointe. After some months, landed a job at La Garconne, working for their in-house line: Moderne. I touched everything from sourcing and product development all the way to production and sales. I thrived the most from sourcing new vendors, developing materials, facilitating communication, and mentoring! I turned my career towards product development and, for the next few years, joined the Derek Lam 10C and Partow teams. After five years of hustling in New York, I decided to look for opportunities that had a greater focus on sustainability and materials, which have become driving passions in my life. After a rigorous job search I landed my dream job, a position in San Francisco as a Materials Developer for a thriving start-up…

...right as the pandemic started!

While the economy was not on my side for that job, I'm still working diligently on rethinking the material supply chain for more efficient and sustainable approaches to apparel. Part of this journey led me to become involved in the co-lab leading the social media efforts for Twitter and Facebook! I feel incredibly lucky to have met this network of people, so many of whom have selflessly given their expert advice, connections and time to help the group in this trying time. The time during the quarantine also gave me a chance to get back to my artistic roots, working on new paintings and illustrations. I am launching a vintage e-shop this summer, called Meyer Dry Goods; its stock will be a unique collection of curated garments, finds and “re-imagined” furniture. This has always been a dream of mine - I’m excited to share my point of view, create community, and to see where it takes me!

One of my “quarantine creations” titled “in light of optimism” acrylic on board.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

Network: It’s so incredibly crucial to take time to network with people in your field. Find professionals who have your “dream job” and reach out to them. Ask about how they got there and what resources they’ve discovered along the way. Lucky for you, the co-lab makes this very easy!

Relax: I wish I would’ve known that no one expects you to know everything on day one. Starting out, the best thing you can do is be willing to learn, be flexible to change, and think outside the box. A fresh point of view and innovative ideas are more valuable than you think. Take care of yourself and your mental health so you can be on your ‘A’ game!

Explore: You don’t have to be “one thing”. While there is value in mastering your craft, open yourself up to opportunities you may not envision for yourself right away. It may bring much more joy than setting concrete expectations. There is no one way of working that “works” well for everyone.

Best career advice you've ever received?

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! As we’ve all seen this year, unexpected things can happen that can unravel your whole life, so it’s important to have diverse skills, and interests in your back pocket. Keep learning, reading, researching. Industries can change shape and advance so quickly, it’s important to stay on your toes and be able to adapt. I’m calling 2020: #TheYearOfTheSideHustle!

What leadership qualities are important to you?

A strong leader is someone who is able to connect with your professional goals and values to work with you to help you (and your team) get there. Compassion, patience, and respect are important both ways to achieve a positive workplace environment. It’s essential to be honest and genuine with your co-workers and realize we’re all human.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

My vintage 60’s patterned jacquard dress. It’s more of a novelty piece than a staple, but I feel the most “me” when I’m wearing it and I would rock it everyday if I could! Also, my pair of pearl earrings, they class up any outfit and can be worn with jeans or a cocktail dress.

Get in touch: sash.gregg@gmail.com
Check out Sasha's work here: sashagregg.com
Follow on IG: sasha.gregg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-gregg-a481837b/