LAUNE x sabri sabri
Meet Sabrina Iorio, founder of sabri sabri. Sabri sabri is a collection created in the pursuit of all things beautiful and all things Italiano. Embroidered designs are vintage patterns reborn from a time when linens were passed down from nonna to mamma to figlia — thoughtfully made in the Lombardy region of Italy.
1. Tell me about yourself and sabri sabri.
I am an Italian American, raised in the US with summers spent with my grandparents in Italy. As an adult I chose to pursue Interior Design and soon realized how influential my time in Italy has been. In all aspects of my life and the things I surround myself with, I tend to lean towards the hand made, objects with character and a story to them. As a child, I can remember seeing beautiful handmade ceramics and tiles in Italy and telling my mom that one day I wanted to sell those objects in the US. Fast forward 30+ years and sabri sabri was born. I remember being in an antique shop in Milan with a colleague who purchased a number of mismatched, stained linens and thought, I can recreate these pieces as complete sets - new, but with the same heart as the originals. I was able to find and partner with a textile shop in Italy which had an entire archive of vintage designs, no longer in production, and that’s where we started.
2. What is the LAUNE (mood) of sabri sabri?
My mood right now is trying to slow down and appreciate things as they are. When you’re a creator of any sort, you can get caught up in all of the ideas scrambling around in your head, wanting to get those ideas out and realized into the 3D. I’m starting to realize there’s no rush, I can slow down and those ideas and ambitions will still be there.
3. What inspires you?
All art, design, music - everything really.. Right around when covid hit I got really into the podcast How I Built This. I loved hearing how brands were formed, the chance meetings and all the things that went wrong along the way. Particularly the businesses created by women I would listen to more than once - Bobbi Brown, Kate Spade, Eileen Fisher, Sara Blakely. It’s not necessarily the brands that I was interested in, but more so the path that led them to something they never saw themselves doing.
4. Where do you feel most creative?
Anytime I’m in Italy, I feel most inspired. Whenever I go back I have this feeling of home rush in that I can’t describe - memories, sounds and scents from my childhood all come back to me. The ordinary feels extraordinary - everywhere you look, the colors, textures, details are just beautiful.
5. What are your favorite linens?
My favorite linen is actually a piece my mom gave me that is very similar to one my grandmother would to use to cover her dough when she was waiting for it to rise. It’s old and stained at this point and I use it around the house for everything.
6. What is the key to the perfect table? What are three staple items that every table setting should have?
I think the key to a perfect table is to not overthink it. Find pieces you love, nice silverware, glassware, a vase full of flowers and you can’t go wrong. I’ve gone back and forth on whether to infuse color in my linens, but I just love classic white backdrop it can give to any setting.
7. Describe sabri sabri in three words.
Simple, classic, familiar.
8. What’s next for sabri sabri?
I’m slowly opening up to partnering with other brands, but also trying to keep things small. New designs are swirling around in my head, waiting to come out over the next year or so..
Rapid Fire:
1. Favorite place?
Any beach along the Adriatic.
2. Favorite brand?
Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior. I love love all the stories she shares of the different crafts- men and women she partners with from around the world. The interviews from Seville leading up to the 2023 collection were so inspiring!
3. Favorite restaurant in NYC?
Terre, just around the corner from me, here in Park Slope.
4. Favorite drink spot in NYC?
I’ve gotten really good at making my own limoncello, can I say my place :) Also, anywhere outdoors with a good Aperol Spritz.
5. Favorite artist?
Rineke Dijkstra - her portraits on the beach, and also her portraits of women before and just after giving birth; beautiful..
6. Favorite movie?
Hands down Moonstruck!
7. What are you loving right now?
Not knowing what’s next..
