Siren Sais
Jul 23, 2020 / Photo: Courtesy of Angela Jones for Siren Sais
After working as a costume designer and maker for many years, Eleanor O'Connell decided she was ready to start her own business — and her prior experience taught her all of the pain points in fashion she sought to avoid in her own endeavors.
O'Connell experienced firsthand the stress manufacturing can put on a person’s mind and body and knew she didn’t want that to be part of her brand’s makeup.
“I luckily had the options to stop and work in other jobs if it was becoming too much for me and the added bonus of being paid well for my time etc.” she explained. “However, there are many people in the world that do not have this option and I sympathize so deeply with them because while the whole process of garment construction and sewing in general can be fun and super creative, but in those circumstances it becomes quite torturous and if you have absolutely no other option, what else can you do?”
She also knew she didn’t want to contribute to any exploitive manufacturing systems that not only unfairly compensate workers, but pollute the planet with synthetic materials. So, she created a sustainable, slow fashion label that not only utilizes organic fabrics but practices ethical production.
Based in Brooklyn, Siren Sais creates clean, stylish pieces that stray away from mainstream fashion’s fickle rhythm. They are also size inclusive and made with a wide range of womxn in mind.
To create the pieces, O'Connell starts with the organic fabrics sourced mostly from dead stock, then uses mood boards and inspiring images to dream up timeless silhouettes.
“I love the idea of classic looks in gorgeous fabric that will work with different body types and that are free of fashion forecasting,” she explained.
The clothes are then manufactured ethically, both in-house in Brooklyn and in partnership with Panâh Project.
Siren Sais is currently poised to release its first bag collection, and will be investing in the future of sustainable material production is in continues to grow. More about them can be found on their website.
