Earlier in the year I had planned to start a podcast, but after recording a few episodes, decided to delay the launch until early 2024. Having interviewed so many interesting and talented women, all on their own journeys, I still wanted to share a few of their stories of triumph and success.
Today I’m sharing an inspiring story about Sarah McKinney, successful business owner here in Seattle whose mother’s strength and resilience after divorce served as her inspiration to create the life of her dreams.
The story begins in a small Eastern Washington town, where Renee Bassetti found herself going through a divorce. With the desire to start a new life, Bassetti packed up and along with her 13-year-old daughter, Sarah, moved to the West side of the mountains settling in the Tacoma area where her older daughter was attending Boarding School.
Unsure about her future and what she would do for work, Bassetti called on her background in fashion and design and after taking some pattern-making classes in Seattle, opened her own shop making custom shirts for women. She wanted to design a women’s shirt that was as easy to wear as a man’s. Thus, Bassetti first women’s shirt was designed.
One day an Italian shirtmaker named Rosa Borriello, who had found Bassetti in the Yellow Pages, came into the shop, and offered to help bring the business to a new level. Bassetti agreed and from there, the Signature Shirt was designed and could be ordered in many variations. Women came from far and wide to have their own Bassetti creations. The shirts made a statement and were easily recognized as the finest in women’s fashion. I remember peering into the display window located on the ground level of the famed Four Seasons Olympic Hotel in Seattle with my nose pressed up against the windowpane dreaming of having my own custom-made Bassetti Signature Shirt. Customers had to be pretty serious about seeking out Bassetti since her little shop was located all the way up on the 12th floor of the hotel. She began expanding her offerings into custom clothing, Italian Cashmere, and a beautiful line of double-faced wool from Milan. She became a local fashion icon sought out by people all over the world.
“I don’t know how she did it all, honestly,” Sarah shared, “she was sourcing fabrics through the Yellow Pages, calling New York to order materials, and dealing with things like interfacing for the garments all while running the business and connecting with customers. She did it all and somehow got it all done!”
Now all of this was evolving as Sarah and her older sister were also making their way in life. Sarah attended the University of Washington where she met my cousin, Ryan McKinney (I forgot to mention the family connection). After college they were married, and Sarah started a job with Amazon that became rather unfulfilling, and eventually started working with her mom full time at the shop. Sarah and her mom spent hours talking new ways of doing business and the future of the shop.
Sarah became familiar with every aspect of the business and recognized the potential for scaling such a unique niche in the fashion industry, by finding a manufacturer to produce the shirts in specific sizes, but at the time, Bassetti wasn’t ready to take on such a monumental project, so they tabled the idea for the time being.
Fast forward a few years and three kids later, Sarah was ready to take on a new project and seven years ago, with the blessing of her mom, opened Sarah Alexandra. Sarah began designing and selling her signature women’s shirts online initially and later expanded into a quaint retail space in Seattle’s Madison Village. These beautiful shirts are constructed of Italian fabrics and offered in sizes 0 – 16. You can find them at Sarah’s shop and online, as well as several upscale boutiques throughout the country.
Personally, I own several of her creations and always feel so special when I wear one. The unique collar construction of the Signature style is always a crowd pleaser, and the weekend shirts make casual dressing feel just a little more sophisticated.
What I love about this story is seeing the resiliency of Sarah’s mom, Renee, who didn’t let anything get the way of creating her own life. In her heart, she knew her truth and against so many odds—a divorced single-mother in the 80s—she started a tiny little business selling high-end custom women’s shirts without proof that it would ever work. Bassetti’s belief in herself instilled a sense of empowerment into both her daughters—Sarah’s sister is a successful business owner living in Eastern Washington—and illuminated for them a pathway to their own hearts and success. Today, Sarah’s impact on her community can be felt far and wide and the pride and appreciation she has for her mother is one of pure love.
Sarah is a wife, a proud mom, community leader, and friend to many. She’s very stylish, loves to play tennis and always has a warm smile to share with everyone she meets.
You can find Sarah’s clothing line online at www.sarahalexandra.com or visit her shop at 2814 E. Madison Street, Seatle, WA 98112