LIFE

Call it a double-life for this part student, part fashion designer, but for this 17-year-old, passion is the driving force.

“I don't really know where it started, it all just came together,” Sarah said of the line. With the help of family and friends, who have photographed, modeled, made videos and helped put the website together for her fashion line, Sarah is driven to get her clothes out to the world.

GL talked to Sarah about how she got into fashion, her line’s inspiration and how she’s dealt with the ups and downs along the way.

Sarah Silverman: I think it's in my blood. My great grandparents were tailors, and my mom worked in the fashion industry. I think fashion was always in me; I've always had the idea of becoming a fashion designer, and beginning ... in the sixth grade, I started buying books on how to draw figures and learning about people in the fashion industry.

Sarah: To tell the short story, I was one day looking around in the fashion district in New York City and found this beautiful velvet fabric. I then drew a sketch and I asked my mom if I [could] go to a tailor and have it made, and I'd pay for it with my birthday money. After that dress, I kept going to the city and buying more fabric, drawing more sketches, and my ideas came to life. One day, I was looking for fabric, and I saw this ad for a small production company.  I then went on to [the] production of my first collection and [am] in the process of making labels and tags.

Sarah: I get a lot of inspiration from celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Alex Chung, Chloe Sevigny and more.

Sarah: Marketing is very important. When my first collection was finished, I was waiting for people to go on my website, but I noticed no one knew about it, of course. I started sending out e-mails to my favorite bloggers and magazine editors and told them about my clothing line and my story. I started a Facebook page and my friends helped me out with spreading the word about my clothing line. 

Sarah: You have to love everything you create. If you're not 100 percent sure about something, you shouldn't do it. You should also do your homework. Every day, I go online to find pictures that inspire me. I go on websites like Tumblr, Bloglovin, Google, etc., and would save pictures. Anything from a picture of [a] daisy to a picture of the Olsen twins on the red carpet. Right now, I have around 2,000 inspiring pictures!

Sarah: I think in order to overcome any obstacle, you have to believe in yourself. I've had people comment on my clothing saying very negative things, but it really hasn't affected me because I am in love with my collection, and no one can make me feel bad about it.

Sarah: Next year is probably going to be my hardest year in school. I have all these big tests coming up and college. Right now, I'm looking into The Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons [at] The New School, Pratt or Rhode Island School of Design. My dream is to study abroad in Paris! I'll also be working on some new designs to add to my collection.

Sarah: My favorite Audrey Hepburn movie is Roman Holiday. It was her first role in a big movie and she was amazing.

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