We are excited to introduce you to Natalie, a designer, traveler, therapist, and gyn cancer survivor from the Western North Carolina area hit hard with recent flooding.
Teal Diva: Just to start tell me a little bit about yourself, where are you from, some hobbies you have, what makes you YOU!
Natalie: I am from a small town called Bunn, North Carolina. At an early age, I knew I was quite different than those around me. I went to college at Appalachian State and earned my master’s at Chapel Hill. As I went through the mental health training, I realized I was unique. Now we know this “uniqueness” as neurodiversity and ADHD. It was nice to understand these things about myself and begin to repackage them as strengths and superpowers instead of deficits. With the newfound freedom to live life against the grain, I embraced my creativity and began traveling and exploring other cultures around the world. In between jobs, I would go for months at a time, getting lost (and found) in the world. During this time I made friends in Thailand, India, and Nepal. I was inspired by the fluorite and eccentric fabrics I found. I began slowly partnering with others to create. As I built closer relationships with them and their families, I saw their struggles and wanted to help. In 2010 Sabai Sabai was born. It continued as my hobby until I left my career in 2016.
TD: How did you make the transition from being a mental health therapist to a clothing designer?
N: I am a mental health therapist who went rogue. Combined with my longtime fascination with traveling, connecting with others, and clothing design, I started a company that focuses on slow fashion, and multi-wear use designs. I design my clothing lines each year while traveling around the world to collaborate with small artisans and often feature yearly fundraisers. Sabai is the creative outlet I can pour into while balancing the burnout of an emotionally taxing job as a therapist. Sabai was born out of the need for balance and healing.
TD: What drew you to the creative world and designing? What inspires you?
N: When I was young, my grandmother taught me how to sew my own Barbie clothes. I thought it was the coolest thing to create with her. She taught me resourceful creativity. I have always been a creative person. I originally went to college forstudio art. I felt like an art degree was not pragmatic and shifted to social work. Here I am many years later with a balance of both.
TD: Tell us a little bit about your diagnosis. Where did you find your strength? What was the hardest? Did you have a community?
N: The timing of my diagnosis was tragic. Over the winter of 2020, I was designing my clothing line, excited to return. I felt like I had finally had a good stride with bending events and festivals. I knew which ones were successful, and worth it, and had projected great success for 2020. However, we all know how that went. Actually, at the end of March 2020, I was stuck in Vietnam while the whole world was shutting down. I was able to get the last flight out as the whole world was shutting down. It was a very intense time for me. When I returned home, I continued to experience atypical symptoms. For two years I had had abnormal discharge. Treating me for all types of conditions, none of which put a dent in the issues I was having. It only continued to get worse. I was often dismissed and not taken seriously. I continued to ask questions and was cleared by many health professionals. I continued to persist and demand they send me somewhere else. I ended up in a fertility clinic. And the doctor said they were confused as I told him my story. He asked me if I had a biopsy or transvaginal ultrasound. I had not. He told me those were the first things that he would do. I left that appointment feeling heard, understood, and hopeful. Two days later I had my diagnosis, Stage 2 endocervical cancer. I was diagnosed on June 5 in the middle of a global pandemic. I lived alone during this time, and it was an extremely difficult time in my life. My parents and siblings live far away. Most of my friends were too afraid to be around me for fear of passing something to me. I had a couple of close friends, not able to handle the diagnosis and chose to distance themselves. My family did show up for me. They drove from far distances quarantined for 14 days prior and took turns staying off and on with me. My first hurdle was a rushed egg harvesting process. I was 38 and was so hopeful to have kids one day. Egg harvesting was a huge success. We raised enough funds and they collected 44 eggs that are still in storage to this day. The next step was surgery and waiting on the pathology report. Surgery went well and I had a wonderful surgeon. It was interesting staying in the hospital during this time, no visitors were allowed. Only my mother could come during certain hours. Again another lonesome time. After three days, I was released and began my recovery at home. After pathology came through it showed a high LSI, intent for the cancer to travel. This dictated low-dose chemo and 28 sessions of radiation. Through the fall and into December, I went through my treatments. It ended with a blood transfusion right before Christmas. And 2021 I recovered and regained my strength, spending a lot of time in the garden. My garden was my happy place. I got really into growing Dahlias. The perfection of nature took my mind off of all my losses. Through this time I struggled with HRT and the loss of my fertility. But in 2022 I was ready to rebound. I went back into mental health practice in 2023. I opened my first private practice and began looking for my first retail store.
TD: How did you get back to designing after your diagnosis?
N: After my recovery, I initially went back to work as a mental health therapist. At the time, after the covid pandemic, therapy services were in high demand. I was in a new environment, nursing homes. I was still processing my own grief and felt like I had more in common with this population. I feel like my recent battle served them well. However, my creative and exploration thirst was waiting to be quenched. 2021/2022 focused on becoming stronger so that I could travel again.
TD: When did you open your retail store and where is it located?
N: I opened my retail store in December 2023. Location is 32 A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. Downtown.
TD: What was that experience like?
N: It took me almost a year to find the right location. It was a true hunt and labor of love. By the time I found the place, I was so ready. It only took me two weeks to get it prepared and opened. I was so excited! Over the next nine months, we continue to build progress. After surviving our initial winter months, which are noticeably less busy, we begin to thrive in this location! We received so much positive feedback and genuine connections in the store. People loved to hear the stories of the artisans and how the designs were brought to life! We were so successful I was contemplating shifting to a bigger store. I was super proud of our growth in such a short time! The future seemed bright!
TD: Tell us you’re experience between opening your retail store and now.
N: Things seemed bright and that life was turning around for me after years of sadness and hardships. I was working hard in both of my careers and sacrificing a lot to get ahead. I was very proud of my progress and tenacity. Now? Honestly? After the massive flooding and devastation to our area in September 2024, I feel quite defeated. I think if I had more time to regain my footing, I would be able to bounce back a little bit better but I’m struggling. Today I received another grant denial. I’m eligible but there’s not enough money to go around. It seems like a lot of the grants are going to a lottery.
TD: What can people do to help you now?
N: People can help by shopping online with me, spreading my message, and engaging with my social media posts. Donations are always very helpful. I have a GoFundMe that would help me pay rent and staff during this difficult time. Tourism has not returned to the Ashville area and we are enduring 3 extremely slow months. Another way to help is to refer us to other clothing businesses that match our vibe and might be interested in carrying our clothing!
TD: What are your dreams for the future, for you, for your store, for your designs?
N: I’m struggling to identify the new dream. I want to go back to what I created, but that’s not looking possible. I’d love to see Sabai thrive online and in other stores across America! I want to see my business not only survive but thrive!
A huge thank you to Natalie for sharing her story and passions with our Teal Diva family. If you are interested in helping her and her shop Sabai Sabai, please reach out to her via social media or through her website.
