SIGRID OLSEN has long been a celebrated designer in the fashion world, having launched her eponymous clothing line in the mid-eighties with unique prints derived from her hand-carved stamps. Over the next few decades it grew extensively, underwent a corporate acquisition, and was eventually closed during the economic downturn of 2008, until Sigrid regained her name 6 years later. She then embarked on a new venture, designing and producing a fresh line of clothing, first as a niche brand, under the “Beach to Bistro” label and now revitalized as, simply, SIGRID OLSEN.
This fresh take on sportswear is Sigrid’s newest passion project, which creatively captures her feel-good philosophy, newfound serenity and her obsession for artisan crafted textiles.
* NOTE: In November 2024, Beach to Bistro will become simply, SIGRID OLSEN.
ALL of the prints and embroideries in the collections today are created by Sigrid in her studio and then interpreted by a gifted group of artisans in India, where she has partnered with a small woman-owned factory, whose founder shares a special affinity for authentic hand-crafted textiles. Sigrid actually carves the original printing stamps out of rubber in a wide array of motifs—flowers. leaves, fish , birds, butterflies, etc—all inspired by the beauty of nature. The designs are then interpreted into wood blocks or hand screens in India, printed on select fabrics, and expertly tailored. The latest addition to the line is a collection of organic cotton sweaters, ethically sourced in Peru.
With a commitment to natural fabrications that are soft to the touch and imbued with artisan details, Sigrid has created the clothes that she herself loves to wear. An enthusiastic print-maker and textile designer, she founded her original company 35 years ago to highlight the prints she generated herself from stamps she carved from potatoes. Now many of those same images are hand-carved out of wood by artisans in India.
Decades in the fashion business have given Sigrid years of experience that informs her reinvention today. While her career was wild and wonderful , she is content now to keep things small and close to home. This small collection has evolved slowly, new items added in an organic fashion, in a cycle that feels more natural and calibrated to fit the needs of her customers. Small batches, attention to detail and a close relationship between designer and factories is the secret to Sigrid's new chapter. Her creative energy moves the enterprise forward without compromising her hard-won serenity.