Meet Sarah Omer | Artist, Crafter, Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Omer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Maintaining a work/life balance is something I’m always working on and has evolved over time. Juggling being a creator, a preschool teacher, and a person with chronic illness, it feels like my time is always divided into different areas of my life. When I first started my brand, it was the late fall of 2020, and I was preparing to return to work as a teacher. I ended up cutting my hours and teaching part time to devote more time to my business while also taking care of my health. While it’s hard to try to maintain multiple aspects of my life and also leaving room for rest & recovery, making art is something I enjoy, and it helps me to relax. My illness has been part of my entire life, and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t working with my hands to create. While teaching wasn’t initially a path a saw myself going down, it’s now hard to imagine myself not doing it. When I first launched Pink Cotton Co., my focus was making jewelry from trinkets and toys I found. As I expanded, I started sewing clothing and accessories to add to my brand. Making clothes is a longer and more involved process so I had to decide how to divide my time. I started blocking out my day, devoting a few full days a week to making clothing and working on jewelry in the evenings after my day job. My schedule was, and still is quite busy, but I make sure to give myself time during the week for self-care, which often includes painting my nails, sipping homemade kombucha, and sitting in the sunshine.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I like to think of Pink Cotton Co. as a whole brand, and more than just a clothing & jewelry company. While my focus is taking secondhand, preexisting materials and turning them into jewelry and clothing, Pink Cotton Co. symbolizes so much of who I am not just as an artist, but as a person. It grew out of my love for sustainability, creating art, and helping others. Believe it or not, four years ago I was terrified of sewing machines. I was certain that if I used one, my fingers would somehow end up beneath the needle, and I’d sew over them like The Grinch in the animated classic Christmas movie. I had sewn with a needle and thread before, but it was usually Halloween costumes for myself or small projects around the house. When the world shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, I started using my fabric stash to make cloth face masks to donate to essential workers who didn’t have any. Hand sewing masks with a needle and thread was tedious and I needed a more efficient way to speed up production. My mom patiently tried to show me how to use her older machine, but I could never get the tension set. My dad tried to get me started on his slightly newer machine, but I could never thread the needle right. I was determined to figure it out. It wasn’t easy, but with lots of practice, within a few weeks I was able to make a handful of masks each day to hand out to essential workers when I’d go to the pharmacy for my prescriptions and necessities.
When I call my brand sustainable, it’s because not only are the majority of materials used to make my wearables secondhand, so are the majority of things in my workspace. I was raised with a love of the environment and to take care of things around you to reduce waste as much as possible. My home is filled with secondhand finds; from furniture and décor to textiles and art, each piece tells a story of its life before. When I decided to start my brand, it was only natural that I start with preexisting materials. The table I use to cut fabric & sew was someone’s dining room table that was in the family for generations, but they no longer had space for it. My serger sewing machine sits on a child’s desk, and my sewing patterns and notions are stored in old file cabinets and library card catalogs. I use empty sauce jars to store my ribbons and threads and weigh my packages on an old U.S. postal scale. It doesn’t make sense for me to buy new when what I need already exists in another form. I source most of my materials from local yard sales and thrift stores, and occasionally family or friends will pass on supplies. I love the thrill of the hunt for textiles because you never know what you’re going to find. Discarded bed sheets and curtains are given a second life when I turn them into fun clothing for someone to enjoy for years to come. I collect trinkets, toys, and missing game pieces to turn them into jewelry, and there’s something so satisfying about digging through a box of old figurines never knowing what you’re going to pull out. Sometimes I’ll find something cool and tuck it away until I know what to make, and other times I immediately know what something is going to be; and that’s all part of the fun of it.
Besides drawing inspiration from the materials themselves, I put a lot of thought into the design process for individual pieces. Each of the signature silhouettes for my clothing line are inspired by someone or something that’s important in my life. The Gordon Top, for example, named after my late grandfather, is a classic button up with a matching chest pocket that is similar to a style of what he often wore. Each of my pieces are thoughtfully designed to pay homage to my loved ones who have helped me along my journey in life. Pink Cotton Co. features timeless silhouettes juxtaposed against playful, nostalgic patterns. I want my brand to evoke a childlike sense of wonder as you browse through my collections, and make you feel like you can express those feelings in a grown-up way. Growing older doesn’t mean your style has to grow dull; you’re never too old for fun! I love watching people’s faces light up when they see my work and spot familiar characters or patterns that they grew up with and had previously forgotten about.
My slogan ‘Fun Wearables for Fun Humans’ signifies that my brand is for everyone, regardless of age, gender or size. My goal is to be as inclusive as possible and I’m constantly looking to expand what accessible means. I don’t currently offer custom sizing (although I would like to add it in the future), but I offer sizes XXS-6XL and am always adding more. I design my clothing to fit a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be worn loose or fitted depending on your desired fit. Most of pieces slip over the head or can be stepped into, and I rarely work with zippers as I find them hard to operate with one hand. My in person events feature an accessible fitting room that can accommodate a stroller or wheelchair. I want as many people as possible to feel included and welcome to shop with me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m actually more of homebody, so when my friends come to visit we usually stay in and watch movies, play some board games, or have a craft night. When we get hungry, my go-to spot is The King and I in Nyack, NY for delicious Thai food. I usually get the tofu Pad Thai and either a Thai iced tea or Lychee juice to drink. Kavos Grill in Nyack is also great if you’re in the mood for Greek food. My favorite is the saganaki fried cheese. If the weather was nice, I’d probably suggest going for a hike in Harriman State Park. There’s a ton of hiking trails and some of them have waterfalls where you can dip your feet in. I’m always down to go to the Jersey Shore no matter the season. Point Pleasant is probably my favorite place to hang out since there’s the beach during the day and arcades at night. I can’t resist a good claw machine, haha! Depending on the mood, I’m usually down for a day trip into NYC to check out the museums and local markets. If we have time, and you’re lucky, I might take you to my favorite hidden local thrift spots.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ooo, this is a tough one! I’m so grateful to have the support of so many lovely people in my life so it’s hard to narrow it down. My family has always been super supportive of my art and whatever I choose to do with it. My parents have been divorced since I was little but have always come together to help me with my passions. From art competitions in high school to waking up early on the weekends to help me set up for a street fair, I know they’ll always be in my corner. My sister Shama has also always been a big supporter of me and my craft. She’s a good sport when we go to flea markets and I want to buy everything in sight, and on long days when I feel like giving up on everything, she lets me vent to her in the car. I’m also thankful to have friends that cheer me on and rally to encourage me in whatever I do. Bree and Mickayla, thank you for supporting my mental health as much as you support me and my wild ideas. Lastly, my therapist has been a huge help in getting me moving again after my mental health took a turn for the worst during the pandemic. She knows just what to say to keep me motivated, stay unstuck, and makes sure I’m giving myself breaks and lots of self-care when I need it. I’m thankful to know love from my friends and family and feel like I have a community of many standing beside me.

Website: https://www.pinkcottonco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.pinkcottonco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinkCottonCo/