about SARPE

Sarpe is a small, independent label specialising in garments and home textiles, born from a desire to preserve, expand, and reinvent textiles handicraft traditions. At Sarpe, we embrace the principles of slow and ethical production, believing that each piece should carry the story of its maker. Every stitch reflects the thoughtfulness, skill, and love of the artisans, whose hands breathe life into our textiles. We honor an ethical supply chain, collaborating with small-scale suppliers and ateliers, ensuring that the integrity of traditional craftsmanship is maintained and respected.

The name Sarpe, meaning "snake" in Corsican, is inspired by the heritage of our founder, Cecile Tafanelli, whose roots lie in the rugged, transformative landscape of Corsica. Just as a snake sheds its skin, revealing a new layer, Sarpe symbolizes transformation—an ongoing process of renewal and adaptation that mirrors Cecile’s own journey as she studied, lived and traveled through India. India’s rich textile heritage, with its layered textures, vibrant decay, and soulful beauty, became the perfect metaphor for Sarpe’s mission.

The Kantha tradition—centuries-old patchwork blankets made by Bengali women, often from layers of fabric scraps—embodies this ethos of transformation. As the outermost fabric wears thin, it reveals the hidden beauty of the layers beneath, much like life’s transitions, where what is worn becomes an opportunity for renewal. At Sarpe, we draw inspiration from this art form, celebrating the imperfections, the wear and tear, and the stories embedded in every fiber. Our pieces are not just textiles; they are landscapes, constantly evolving and telling the stories of both the hands that made them and the lives they will touch.