Founder & CEO
SARAH RINNAH WACKS
“The literal definition of the word “deck” is meaningful to me. It’s the top of a skateboard, which represents speed and freedom from convention, and it is the extension of a home, which connotes comfort and sanctuary. I think of DECK as an extension of my soul. An exciting, warm, welcoming place where everything is considered. A place where you feel calm and inspired”
Assertive, audacious and determined, Sarah is a force to be reckoned with. Gifted at discovering and advocating for authentic talent, she has always strived to lift up people in her personal and professional life. She founded DECK in 2014 in order to help designers feel nurtured, grounded and have the freedom to grow.
Born in New York City in a family of collectors and curators, Sarah’s childhood was spent in picturesque places: Palm Beach, Arizona, Israel, Europe and Seattle. Her early imagination was fueled by her parents’ storied lives. Sarah’s mother was born in New York in the 1950s and grew up in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a holiday destination for the European aristocracy on the French Riviera. Her father was born in Shanghai in the 1930s, in a family of Jewish refugees from Iraq. Raised in India and London, he eventually arrived in New York where he founded FOCUS, a lifestyle magazine chronicling the city’s most sought-after restaurants, hotels and parties. International and stylish, dashing and cultured, the milieu of her parents’ lives has formed the outlines of Sarah’s vision for her own work.
A citizen of the world and true believer in trusting her instincts, Sarah navigated an unconventional career path. She has worked as a realtor and ran East Coast and international sales at the iconic American fashion house Halston where she was an early advocate for the use of sustainable materials and production methods. Always pushing ahead based solely on her own merit, Sarah has earned a reputation for her optimism, perseverance and grit.
DECK was born out of Sarah’s life-long dream to curate a contemporary, thoughtful interpretation of luxury. Imbued with nostalgic references to the bygone era, yet thoroughly modern in their approach, the brands on DECK reflect her personal style choices and a sincere commitment to timeless design, ethical execution and compelling stories.
Contributors
HANNAH FAITH LORD
Photography and Partnerships
hannahfaithlord.com
Hannah is a creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California. She and her nine siblings were raised on a farm in the Midwest where the family lived off the land. Both of her parents and grandmother are talented artists who have had a profound influence on Hannah’s creative spirit. Inspired by art, fashion and the beauty of nature, Hannah has found a place to mesh all her passions together in her photography.
KAILE SMITH
Art Direction
kailesmith.com
Kaile is an art director, designer, and creative consultant based in NYC and London. With over a decade of experience in the fashion and luxury industries, both agency-side and in-house, she works collaboratively with brands large and small to craft their storytelling with beauty and integrity, create elevated yet authentic visual messages and build meaningful connections with their audiences. She holds a MSc in the psychological and neuroscientific study of aesthetics and creativity and always looks for ways to imbue her learnings into her work.
YULIA ZEE
Editorial Direction
yuliab.com
Yulia is a creative writer and content strategist with a penchant for distilling tangled ideas into elegant truths. She collaborates with luxury and lifestyle brands helping them establish an original voice and tone and define their purpose and brand story. Some of her clients include Michael Kors, Kate Spade, La Mer, Smashbox and Viktor & Rolf. Born in Ukraine and raised in New York City, she currently splits her time between a remote log cabin in the New Zealand mountains and the graffiti backdrops of Berlin, Germany.
GINA LEE
VP of Sales
Gina is a fashion sales director, who over the past 10 years has enjoyed a rewarding career at luxury fashion houses in Europe and the U.S. including Isabel Marant, Mansur Gavriel, Saint Laurent and Proenza Schouler. Born in New York, Gina has lived and worked in Paris since she was 20 years old, departing the French capital for NYC once again six years ago. Having worked at both large and small brands and companies, Gina is partial to the small company mindset and culture, where one can feel like they are part of a tight-knit family.
KRISTEN ROLLER
Director of Sales
Kristen hails from a military family and has called many southern states home before settling in Philadelphia where she studied Television and Video Production. She’s been living in New York City from 2005, building a comprehensive career in luxury fashion sales. Some of the brands she’s worked for include Prabal Gurung, Narciso Rodriguez, Rochas, Veronique Branquinho, Jean Paul Gaultier and Antonio Berardi. Venturing out on her own in 2019, Kristen has consulted for clients such as Kenzo, Ciao Lucia and La Tierra Sagrada. On her off days she can be found at home in Greenpoint, Brooklyn or at her cabin in Western Catskills.