CREATOR SERIES: Sarah Munro - Creative Director & Co Founder
Meet Sarah Munro – Co Founder and Creative Director of fine jewellery brand Sarah and Sebastian, a connoisseur of materials, innovator, diving enthusiast, and thalassophile.
Sarah translates her experiences found through her love of travel and the ocean into visual masterpieces, worn and loved the world-over. Guided by her passion for ocean conservation and sustainability, intention is always at the heart of what she does, and it certainly shows – her jewellery pieces transcend trends through thoughtful and timeless designs using only the highest quality of materials.
As a long-time fan of Sarah’s designs, I was thrilled to sit down with her recently for a conversation to learn more about her creative process, where she finds her inspiration that gives rise to a design idea, and her love of the ocean.
Read on for more.
Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for inviting me in for a glimpse of your creative world.
Please tell us about the evolution of your career and how you came to do what you do.
As a design graduate, I've always been fascinated with conceptual design and handcrafted creations. I met my business partner Robert Sebastian Grynkofki during jewellery design studies abroad and after he moved to Australia, we started making jewellery together in our free time.
As more people began to notice our pieces, a stylist used them in a magazine shoot and asked for our brand name. Sarah & Robert didn’t have quite the ring to it so SARAH & SEBASTIAN was born. From humble beginnings crafting jewellery on a kitchen table, we now have a team of over 150 staff members. While I continue to serve as Creative Director, we recently brought on CEO Amelia Fincher to lead the business into the future.
Do you have a design philosophy?
At the heart of our brand lies a deep-seated curiosity that drives us to explore uncharted territories and ask "what if?”. We thrive on pushing the limits of what's possible, both in terms of our creative concepts, innovative manufacturing techniques and customer experience. Our approach is characterized by meticulous attention to detail in everything we do, from the beginning of each collection, including concept, design, and materials, to our impact on the planet. Collaboration is an integral part of our brand DNA, with Robert and I and our teams working closely together to bring each collection to life.
Can you describe what inspires your work the most, and why?
The ocean has always been a huge source of inspiration for me, not just because of its incredible beauty and vastness, but also because of the important role it plays in our planet's ecosystem. As a recreational diver, I have been fortunate enough to witness first-hand the stunning diversity of marine life and the fragility of our ocean environment. Each collection incorporates subtle nods to the ocean, from the colours and textures of the materials we use to the shapes and forms of our designs. It's incredibly rewarding to see our clients connect with these pieces and create their own personal connections to the ocean and its significance.
Please share with us a bit more about your work and interest in ocean conservation.
We’ve worked closely with our partner the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), since 2019, supporting their insurmountable efforts in protecting our precious marine life. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the brand last year, we introduced the Xanthe project, our pledge as a company to donate over a million dollars to ocean conservation within the next decade. The Xanthe Project supports four independent Australian not-for-profit organisations whose mission aligns with ours across education, activism, political change and commercial impact including The AMCS, Ocean Impact Organisation, Sea Women of the Great Barrier Reef and Take 3 for the Sea.
I’m also deeply passionate about our Now You See Me film series, short films directed by photographer & filmmaker Alice Wesley-Smith, designed to create awareness for the challenges Australia’s most endangered marine life face. The series has already focused on Australian Sea Lions and coral of the Great Barrier Reef and we will be launching our next film about sharks along the east coast of Australia in May.
Your favourite travel destination, and the next on your list
Anywhere in Australia. This year I’m travelling back to Whyalla in South Australia soon to witness the cuttlefish migration again and to the Great Barrier Reef to explore more of the islands. I don’t think it’s possible to get tired of travelling to these beautiful places right on our doorstep.
For more, visit sarahandsebastian.com