Sara Berks interview

Your shop, MINNA, is now based in upstate New York, but you previously worked in Brooklyn. Is there something about the Hudson Valley that you find fosters creativity? How does it compare to being a creator in NYC?

I moved Upstate almost seven years ago after a decade in Brooklyn. I started MINNA there but it wasn’t until I got Upstate that I could afford space and really propel MINNA forward. There’s an incredibly creative community here that certainly fosters more creativity and there’s also an entrepreneurial spirit here. There’s less pressure of a hustle than in NYC that allows for space to create in a different way. At least for me, I can have a stressful day at work but the drive home (or the walk into the backyard) brings me back to center.

You’ve received amazing feedback on your unique and understated dog beds. What inspired you to make products for pets? 

I’m a dog person and I’ve always wanted to make something for furry friends. My main concern was making something that was durable while also being beautiful. We developed a strong fabric that can withstand washing and some scratching! 

Do you currently have any pets? Have you always been a pet person?

Yes, I have a dog named Soba and a cat named Bear. Bear is actually bigger than Soba which is an amusing balance. I grew up with a Beagle named Clarissa (yes, I named her after Clarissa explains it all) and I also adopted a dog in Brooklyn named Max. 

How do you go about sourcing materials and doing so ethically? Do you have craftspeople that you regularly work with?

Our entire business model is built on long-term relationships. We work directly with our artisan partners to develop all of our products and regularly check-in about what’s working and what can be improved. These types of relationships set you up to work more ethically and equitably. Some of the groups we work we met on my first product development trip in 2015.

You’ve shared that your work is inspired by BauHaus and feminist works. Do you have a background in art history or activism that led you to incorporate these principles into your art?

My background is actually in graphic design and learning about the Bahaus was so important to my development as a designer and an artist. As a queer woman who spent my 20s in Brooklyn I was surrounded by radical ideas about how to live and work in the world. When I started MINNA it was important to me to stay true to those roots and ensure that my business did more than make money, but also had a positive impact whether through creating job opportunities or redistributing funds.