SA VA Opening

1700 Sansom St., 215-587-0004, savafashion.com.

by Felicia D' Ambrosio

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Sarah Van Aken, 33, has installed a vertically integrated, micro-garment district in the nondescript office building facing the Sofitel Hotel on Sansom Street. When I visited one day before SA VA's Aug. 30 opening, assistants were tagging perfectly steamed Italian twill jackets for the sales floor while sewing machines hummed away.

"There is a fashion industry in Philadelphia," says Van Aken. "Sewing machine mechanics, sources of labels — but it's all underground. If we need snaps on a garment, we have to have the snap machine."

This homegrown sensibility informs SA VA's inventory, 65 percent of which is made in-house. Collections, all in women's sizes 2 to 16, are sorted by events: key "workday" pieces, casual "Saturday," dressier "night out," fun "first date" and "Sa va," which has an edgier look. Clothing and accessories not created in SA VA's design studio/production space are sourced with an eye to both style and sustainability. Each piece must meet Van Aken's requirements for environmental friendliness, and is labeled organic, Fair Trade, local or recycled.

Social sustainability is another key facet of Van Aken's business plan: She's already established fair-wage jobs for stylists/salespersons, office and garment workers, and hopes to employ 22 people by the business' second year. With the Sansom Street boutique now open to the public, Van Aken's next project is launching her Web site and e-store this month, as well as hosting a launch party on Wed., Sept. 30, at 6 p.m., complete with runway show.

Look for that Italian twill jacket ($239) in a length appropriate to wear over leggings, as well as a futuristic black "liquid fabric" mini-dress ($269) that will take you through the holiday season. "Style is individual," says Van Aken. "Our sensibility arose from many styles of clothing."

1700 Sansom St., 215-587-0004, savafashion.com.

(felicia.dambrosio@citypaper.net)