“Sakmė” in Lithuanian means a legend, a mythical story that explains the origins of the world and the natural phenomena. It also depicts human interaction with fantastical creatures, who are of various forms: feminine or masculine; lyrical or unrefined; but at the end of the day, they all have the same purpose in common: helping people live their full potential.
Our team felt connected to Sakme through our love for Baltic heritage & a modern spin on traditional crafts, so it was only natural to invite them to join our "Made By Our Friends" section. We sat down with Sakme's creator Simona to get to know them better.
Can you tell us more about how Sakme was born?
Sakme was born out of a desire to create a truly modern and unique linen brand, which, on one hand, represented Lithuanian heritage, and on the other hand, reflected modern artistic expression and design freshness. It was by looking into what is available on the market of linen-wear and realising that something is missing.
If you had to describe your brand in 3 words, what would it be?
Creativity. Quality. Modernity.
Tell us a bit more about the creative process. How do you come up with ideas for new collections, where do you look for inspiration?
Inspiration comes from many different places: from travelling and discovering other cultures; from nature – especially when it comes to colours, textures and patterns; from the past – vintage stores, flea markets, books and documentaries on the history of fashion; from friends and the way they dress; from other art forms such as painting, sculpture and music.
Linen in a modern woman’s wardrobe. How does it look like?
For me, modernity is all about silhouette, clean lines and practicality. Sakme’s goal is to make its garments look easy and unpretentious with focus on comfort and longevity. A modern woman is intelligent and mindful about what she buys and wears. She wants to invest in quality pieces that are timeless and pleasant on her skin. Linen is one of the most durable textiles in the world, highly absorbent, thermoregulating and hypoallergenic. In terms of ecology, linen is also a real champion. The plant does not require irrigation and its fibre is harvested through natural processes. These qualities, mixed with a timeless silhouette, is a modern woman’s wardrobe.
Shop Sakme linen pieces here.
How does sustainability tie into Sakme?
As a young brand, we cannot afford to not be sustainable. Not only because it does not make sense financially, but also because it goes against our philosophy. We believe that “waste” is only a consequence of poorly managed production and decision-making. We deliberately produce small quantities because we do not want to have extra stock, and if that happens, we reuse the materials for our next collection.
We are also extremely conscious of how much waste packaging produces – we are working on having all items related to packaging and labels to be from recycled materials and as minimal as possible.
We also extensively research the textiles we use. For example, linen, being weaved almost 5000 years since the ancient Egypt, has been perfected in terms of sustainability. All parts of the flax plant (from which linen is made) are used for the production of, for instance, food, paper, or insulation material. Also spinning and weaving do not have a large impact on the environment and again, all residuals are processed resulting in zero waste.
What’s the hardest thing about managing a brand?
Balancing creativity and business. On one hand, a brand should represent a unique point of view on aesthetics, yet on the other hand, it has to be commercially successful to survive and carry on. These are two different mindsets, and they are very hard to balance
What would be your fav pick from The Knotty Ones?
Embroidered Jūra sweater is my favourite. It has the oversized silhouette that fits many occasions, clean design, and yet has that little extra in the form of a wavy cable-knit that flows from one arm to the other.
