In a world where careers often follow a linear path, Sabrina Lee stands out as a remarkable exception. After getting a law degree from Georgetown, she moved around the globe thanks to a position with an international law firm. She spent most of her time in Europe, living in London for six years and doing a brief stint in Paris, plus Stateside stops in Washington, DC; New York; and finally North Carolina.
Despite finding great success in the legal field, Lee yearned to reconnect with her artistic side. Creative expression has always been a part of Lee’s life, from playing the violin as a child to swing and salsa dancing in college. Once out of school and practicing law full time, her limited free time made it nearly impossible to get to dance classes or socials.
Lee knew she needed to find another creative outlet that offered more flexibility. She thought back to a home economics class she took in high school. “I remember making a pillow or a hoodie or something and really enjoying it,” she says, “so I decided to just take a sewing class and see how that goes.”
She took her first class while living in New York, setting her firmly on the path toward her new obsession.
During her time in London, Lee continued with classes on design, pattern drafting, draping, and tailoring geared toward non-enrolled students at such renowned design schools as Central Saint Martins and London’s College of Fashion.
“While I’m not formally trained — as in, I didn’t get a degree in fashion — I’ve certainly studied all aspects of it quite intensely on my own,” she says.
A self-proclaimed “tomboy” as a child, Lee never expected to pivot toward fashion. Even now, her interest lies less in the clothing itself than in art, design, and self-expression. “I’m interested in sewing as an engineering problem,” she says. “How do I make this thing that I have envisioned in my head?”
Inspiration usually comes organically for Lee, and can strike just about anywhere. London and New York both offered an abundance of fabric shops with high-end notions, but when she moved to North Carolina, the scarcity of such stores caused her to shift her aesthetic. Lee turned to local thrift stores in search of more interesting textiles. She now gives used fabrics a second life by turning things like blankets into modern and wearable garments and accessories.
“I try to find whatever is interesting to me. Sometimes I immediately know what I want to make with it,” she says, “and sometimes it literally just gets washed, folded up, and stuck in my closet. Then like a year and a half later, it emerges as something. I couldn’t tell you what the magical alchemy is. I just know when it’s time.”
Lee is currently working on a line of garments made from sheer curtains — something readily available at most thrift stores, with designs ranging from florals to geometric patterns. The practice may seem unconventional, but it leads to spectacular results.
She sells her unique designs online as well as at craft fairs and art festivals throughout the Triangle. Customers often request commissioned pieces at such events after Lee’s ability to creatively manipulate alternative textiles inspires ideas for their own materials.
CenterFest, Durham
September 21–22
Holly Arts & Crafts Festival, Pinehurst
October 19
Humble Heart Bazaar Marketplace, Raleigh
November 19–20
Pieces made from sheer curtains inspired a recent request at an event in Southern Pines. A woman approached, and “She told me this incredible story where her mom, who was cleaning house, was about to throw away her wedding dress — a gorgeous lace concoction,” Lee recalls. She rescued the dress from the trash, but ultimately stuck it in a closet because it didn’t fit her.
“I think she thought, well, she can clearly work with white and cream and lacy fabrics or sheer fabrics, so maybe can do something with this.”
Lee hopes that by transforming old curtains and wedding dresses into modern, one-of-a-kind garments, she is developing an aesthetic that will be instantly recognizable as her work in the future.
The path from international law to fashion design is not a common one, but for Lee, it has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey. As she looks to the future, Lee remains committed to her dual careers, confident that her dream of becoming a full-time designer will one day become a reality.
sabrina-lee.com
Instagram: @sab_lee_handmade
- Women of Western Wake: Annette Hibbert Stevenson
- Meet Cary Magazine’s 2024 Women of Western Wake
- Women of Western Wake: Sue Harnett
- Women of Western Wake: Katie Gailes
- Women of Western Wake: Elaine Buxton
- Women of Western Wake: Dr. Joy Allen
- Behind the Seams
- Garden Adventurer: Peony Patience
- Liquid Assets: Pub Ale
- Liquid Assets: Your Favorite Scarf
- Restaurant Profile: Myra Café
- Nonprofit Spotlight: Thrift2Gift
- Small Business Spotlight: Spavia Day Spa MacGregor Village
- Creative Awakenings
- On Trend: The Sandwich Method
- Things to Do: September 2024
