NAME Saskia Savea

AKA Other Half Ardie Savea

TIMES AROUND THE SUN 25

FROM Austrian, born in NZ

LIVE Wellington, NZ

ALL ABOUT BEING Family girl – Animal/dog obsessed – Determined – Loving

GIVE US THE LOW DOWN Ardie and I met in school through mutual friends, so I’ve been part of his rugby life way before his professional rugby career started. Always been Wellington-based. Been together 10 years this year, married nearly a year, one beautiful daughter, Kobe, and two huskies, Kota and Kylo.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (majors: management, criminology; minor: economics). I would love to go back at some point to maybe do a bit more study.

When I finished my degree and after I did a little travel, Ardie had always loved fashion and wanted to create something of his own. I said to him why not try to see if it will work. It was a good opportunity as I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and it meant I could run everything, and he could design.

WHO IS ASAV. CLOTHING We began wanting to do streetwear, sort of had a Yeezy fell, baggy etc. We began with NZ manufacturers and started small. It worked ok but wasn’t rolling like we would’ve hoped and we didn’t know where it would go.

Ardie has developed a huge passion for mental health and wellbeing, so we decided our journey would take a different path, and would use clothing as an avenue to promote awareness revolving around wellbeing.

MENTAL HEALTH MEETS FASHION Our range of wellbeing tees has been influenced hugely by Ardie’s passion for mental health and wellbeing. We both worked together to generate a new path for Ardie Savea Clothing, which had more meaning and purpose. Our range aims to generate messages revolving around wellbeing. We have developed our social media in terms of content as well.

WORKING WITH YOUR OTHER HALF It’s really good. We stay separate, so Ardie does the designs and I do mostly everything else, especially while he is away with rugby. It works well.

THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH INTO BUSINESS

ONE If you don’t try it, you’ll regret it because you never know what could have been.

TWO ASK ASK ASK. I believe business owners are more willing nowadays to encourage, support, give advice. So ask those in the business for tips or to be a mentor.

THREE Be yourself, promote things you believe in or love, and don’t be put down by those that may not like your business.

RUGBY LIFE LOW DOWN It’s a very unique journey. We are extremely grateful to be in the position we are in, but it really is a different sort of journey. We just deal with everything that comes with it and think how blessed we are.

RUGBY HIGHS I get to watch my amazing hubby do what he loves to do, and for me, that is huge to see all his dreams come true. Being a part of his growing journey has also been incredible to watch. We are also so blessed that I am able to stay at home with Kobe and look after her and our dogs as well. It’s also really cool to have travelled to a few of the overseas games.

LOWS The boys are always travelling, especially at Super15/All Blacks level. It has become more challenging since we had our daughter especially and now she’s very aware that he is away. Also the limelight and criticism that comes with it are challenging, however, we have learnt to just not listen to media and comments.

PARTING WISE WORDS Be you, love you. AND: Never go to sleep angry or in an argument with your loved ones.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU

Instagram: @saskiasavea | @asavclothes