Enough is enough. It’s a well-worn expression and one that goes a long way to explaining the ethos of Brooklyn-based designer Sean McNanney. The man behind luxury cashmere and interiors label, Saved NY, has learned over his career that design is all about “knowing when you have enough … or when you need more.”
“A lot of people would categorise me as a maximalist, but at the same time I can appreciate a more minimal environment, as long as it has the right pieces and isn’t dull,” he explains.
Like many artists, McNanney’s affinity for design started when he was young. He recalls days with his mother spent rummaging through wares at neighbourhood garage sales, then going back home to redecorate. “I’ve been a super visual and tactile person for as long as I can remember, but that is where I really began to love and enjoy design.”
After pursuing his passion for design at the Centre for Creative Studies (now the College for Creative Studies) in Detroit, McNanney made a name for himself working for Ralph Lauren Home. In 2015, he took the leap and started his own design brand, Saved NY. “I wanted to make blankets. Luxurious blankets. That was my initial focus and my beginning,” he says. “After achieving success with the blankets, throws and pillows, it was only natural for my personality that I would want to expand into other areas of design.”
Since then, Saved NY has expanded into homewares, fashion and vintage pieces, including furniture, jewellery and ceramics. Even better, the brand is now available in New Zealand exclusively at luxury department store Faradays in Auckland.
Saved NY’s line of fine cashmere throws, cushions and blankets reflect McNanney’s love for ‘old-world craftsmanship and modern sensibility’. Ranging from bold, pop-art expressions to succinct, Turkish- inspired designs, pieces are made from 100 per cent sustainably sourced Mongolian cashmere.
“My stepmother is Mongolian, and it is through her and her family that I became involved with these amazing craftspeople,” says McNanney. McNanney takes his commitment to sustainability and provenance seriously, travelling to meet the herders and artisans who uphold the traditions of Mongolian nomadic culture.
“I am so humbled to be able to be a part of this business which ultimately enables them to continue their generations of tradition and help them not just survive, but thrive.”
Constantly on the lookout for new ideas, McNanney finds inspiration in his surroundings, be it the hip neighbourhoods of Brooklyn, or bustling streets of Europe. “From there I’m lucky to have an incredible team that helps me with the logistics of turning an inspiration into a physical piece.”
