Meet Diana Salvati | Founder, Saltbox Sash

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Salvati and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always had a passion for all things home, and in 2017, I began to think about starting my own business selling home decor. I loved the idea that I could take part in the process of helping others cultivate a home they love. Looking for inspiration, I attended a craft show and happened upon a booth selling fair trade products. At that time, the concept of fair trade was vaguely familiar to me as I thought fair trade products were just coffee and bananas. I purchased a jewelry box that day but was intrigued to learn more about fair trade. I discovered fair trade, governed by ten principles, prioritizes values such as transparency, equality, and sustainability. Powered by producers, businesses, certifiers, and consumers, this global movement does business the way it should be: people and the planet first. Artisans are paid fairly for their work, are not subjected to unsafe working conditions, and there is no child labor, forced labor, or exploitation. Products are handcrafted in an environmentally friendly manner using natural, local, and sustainable materials, and time-honored traditional art forms such as sculpture, basket weaving, woodcraft, embroidery, and pottery are passed down from generation to generation, preserving cultures. Enlightened by everything I learned, my desire to start a home decor business was led by a deep desire to advocate for the fair trade movement and commit to sourcing fair trade products for my business. We partner with fair trade organizations and non-profits to curate our collections of home decor and unique gifts handcrafted in over 25 countries worldwide.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Saltbox Sash was born from my desire to help customers create homes that feel collected, tell their stories, and reflect their values while impacting and empowering artisans in underserved communities. Owning a small retail business isn’t easy, and even more difficult to compete with big-box companies, but I’m up for the challenge and excited to share that journey. I’m proud to have chosen a path that celebrates conscious consumption and advocates for putting people and the planet first. I try to learn and share as much as possible about fair trade and conscious consumerism so my customers can make informed decisions and experience a sense of connection to the people who make our products. I aim to encourage customers to learn where their products are from who made them, where, and how. We must ask these questions and decide which companies will get our “vote” and support.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting me in Westchester New York, I’d have her visit me in the Spring so we could comfortably spend time outdoors. Here are a few places I’d take her.

– Great coffee and conversation at Black Cow Coffee Shop, Pleasantville
– Go for a hike at Rockefeller State Park Preserve
– Catch a movie at The Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville
– Grab a delicious lunch at Root 2 Rise, or Second Mouse Cheese Shop, Pleasantville
– Take our dogs for a walk at Kensico Dam, Valhalla
– Stop for ice cream at The Village Creamery, Valhalla
– Have a drink and dinner at Chatterbox, Pleasantville
– See a play at ARC Stages, Pleasantville
– Hop on the train to NYC to see a Broadway Show, find a coffee shop, and enjoy more conversation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I was raised by parents who not only ran their businesses but were immigrants from Italy trying to build a life in a foreign country. Watching them navigate all the challenges as business owners taught me a thing or two about hard work and grit. Their example set the stage for my desire to one day have a business of my own and instilled an entrepreneurial spirit in me that runs deep. My husband has been a great source of inspiration and support. He believed in me and my idea for this business from the beginning and is always willing to help, and of course, my children also support and inspire me to go further and reach higher. I love sharing my work with them and helping them learn that everything we buy has an impact in some way on people and the environment.

Website: www.saltboxsash.com

Instagram: @saltboxsash

Facebook: @saltboxsash

Other: Tiktok: @saltboxsash Pinterest: @saltboxsash

Image Credits
Photo of three artisan women standing together, photo credit: Global Goods Partners Photo of women sitting together, photo credit: Acacia Creations