Sarah Van Aken is the designer and creator of Van Aken and SA VA. Sewing and retail have been a part of Sarah’s life since she was a child. The women in Sarah’s family all made clothes and just about everything else. She spent weekends going to work with her mother who was an executive retail manager. As many American girls, Sarah Became obsessed with clothes and shoes in her teens. She was always searching for the designs and fabrics that she envisioned, but had difficulty finding them. During her freshman year of college, Sarah began making her own clothes. Sarah completed a B.A. in Fine Art at the University of Delaware and went to work in garment production at an apparel wholesaler in New York City. Sarah relocated to Philadelphia a few years later and learned business as an executive manager for a local restaurant corporation.

In early 2004, Sarah decided to pursue here dream of creating her own apparel line, and so SA VA and Van Aken were born.

Sarah’s distinctive design philosophy is rooted in clean, flattering cut, sensual pieces that balance form and function. Both of her signature labels lend themselves to luxury and practicality. Sarah’s love of textiles inspired her to build both brands using the world’s most premium and exotic textiles.