In Conversation with Sacha Strebe

Our MARLOE MARLOE In Conversation series aims to put the spotlight on individuals who are doing incredible things in their own right, pioneering in their chosen industry and inspiring the next generation to do the same. We speak to Sacha Strebe, LA local & creative about her everyday, her business & what's next after the year that was 2020. 

Photo by Jenna Peffley

We want to know more about you! What does a typical day look like? 

I wake up at 6 AM most days so I can have some time to myself before the workday begins. I have a pretty standard morning routine every day that includes a lot of hydration! I start with an earl grey tea, followed by an oat milk decaf latte, and then a green smoothie (kale, unsweetened almond milk, protein powder, and The Beauty Chef Glow Powder), then sometimes I have an iced matcha latte after that. 

I often have zoom meetings that start around 7:30-8AM so starting the morning in silence before everyone wakes up is my version of meditation. After my zoom meetings, I tackle my inbox, and get started on the work that's due for that day which can include stories I'm writing, working on growth strategy, connecting with our team over slack on sponsored content/social/newsletter etc, liaising with contributors on their pitches/stories, and planning for the next day. 

I usually work right up until 4 PM and sometimes I will go for a walk with our 12-year-old son and our French bulldog Cosmo. It's so important to take time out for yourself and for your family. Also, we're still on major lockdown in LA so that outdoor time is also vital for my mental and physical health and sanity. 

I recently put down my pen as senior editorial director at Create & Cultivate to pursue my own path. I'm now collaborating with some incredibly creative women including Camille Styles, Athena Calderone, Lonny, and a few other personal projects that I can't reveal just yet. I'm super excited to finally be on my own path and living my truth. It wasn't easy though. Getting to that point where you're ready to leave the safety net of a full-time job takes time and not only that, our self-worth is often tied to our jobs and the brands/businesses we work for so leaving your job can be a total identity crisis. But now that I have made the leap, I'm so much happier and healthier mentally. I cannot recommend it enough.  And if it's really what you are meant to be doing, work and money will follow. 

Tell us about your Neighbourhood, and your morning coffee order? 

 We live in Silver Lake, Los Angeles which is just a stone's throw from Sunset Boulevard. We love it here so much we haven't moved since we secured this apartment 5 1/2 years ago. It's such a creative and friendly community although right now we don't really see that many people since we're still in lockdown. 

On the weekends, our little family does the walk down to our favorite local coffee shop, Cafecito Organico. They do the best-iced decaf oat milk latte and if we're feeling fancy we'll also order the gluten-free chocolate chip cookie. 

 Our home is a reflection of who we are as individuals and as a family. It's full of sentiment and stories of the past, present, and future. Everything we bring into the space is curated—we all have to love it or it doesn't come home! We have special rocks and crystals we've collected on road trips across California and Arizona that not only remind us of the fun we had but also fill our home with the vibrational energy of our travels. People feel it when they visit too. We're incredibly proud of the space we've created together and the memories we have made in this small home of ours.

I have the Marloe Marloe Stevie vase on the bed-head of our new birch timber bed frame. When we photographed the room for Bed Threads recently my friend and prop stylist, Brady Tolbert filled it with sculptural branches and it was the perfect accompaniment to the textured abstract painting above it. 

Your daily inspiration, where do you find it?  

I am always inspired by my nature. We just came back from a five-day trip to Big Sur on the California coast and it was exactly what we needed after being cooped up inside for the past year. The natural beauty of this region is unlike anywhere else in the world and we soaked it all in. I just loved being that close to the ocean again, inhaling the sea air, listening to the waves lap the shore, driving along winding roads to find secret beaches, and being present in the moment. We reconnected with ourselves again. 

 Living in America during COVID has been a rollercoaster of emotions, add the political landscape and the Black Lives Matter movement this year and it's safe to say we've all been tested, pushed to our limits, and challenged. But I feel really grateful for the experience. It has forced us to question our lives, to take the blinders off, and tap into what it is we really want for ourselves and for this country. I certainly did a lot of deep thinking and questioning which eventually led me to leave my full-time job to return to my editorial roots and lean into my two passions: design and beauty. Life is too short for us not to pursue what we love. It just took me to the age of 40 to realize that but I'm here now and I'm beyond grateful. I have a few projects coming up and one major personal project that won't be out until next year. I'm also working with some incredibly creative women who push and propel me to innovate and continue to master my craft. Blessed is an understatement. As Lalah Deliah puts it, I'm vibrating higher.

Sacha's home features the STEVIE form in LAVA & BONE. Find it here.