Dressing for Battle:
The Birth of Saunté
"Some fighters wear war paint and shining armor, but it's my winged eyeliner and funky blazers that get me through the battles of the day."
My name is Mia, and I am the founder and CEO of Saunté and a resident physician living out my Gossip Girl fantasies on the Upper East Side of New York City.
A More Elegant Solution
For me and many of my female healthcare colleagues, dressing up in the morning was something that gave us confidence. Putting on an outfit that made us feel our best would set us up for a day of success. And in the hospital, that meant taking the best care of our patients.
Our Mission
We want to empower women both inside and outside of the hospital by creating scrubs that celebrate femininity. With a more tailored and refined silhouette, this line can be worn to see patients and seamlessly transition to an evening look for that dinner with your friends.
"In today's modern world, healthcare professionals are more than just their day job. They are businesswomen, friends, mothers, fierce networkers, influencers, and bold fashionistas."
My Story: A Passion for Fashion
Growing up, I was the kid wearing colorful tights underneath high-waisted shorts, trying to stand out among the crowd (not sure why my mom let me leave the house that way). As the overachieving nerd in middle and high school, my former hobbies of painting and drawing had to take a backseat to my busy schedule. But fashion remained my daily form of creative expression. The school hallways were my runway.
Over the years, my style evolved (thank G-d), and dressing up, styling outfits, and learning the art of cosmetology became a passion. I experimented with various business ventures—from Distinctive Denim (a middle school idea where I customized old jeans into rainbow shorts) to @Medtrends, a fashion Instagram documenting my outfits. Each step shaped my journey from college to medical school and now residency.
And the motivation behind it all stayed the same: when I woke up in the morning and put together a fire outfit, I felt unstoppable. It gave me the confidence to take on the day. No matter if I had gotten just three hours of sleep the night before—painting on my winged eyeliner, buttoning up my blazer, and zipping up those loud-heeled booties made me feel like a million bucks (even with over $200k of student loans).
The Reality of Residency
When I matched into residency, of course, I was ecstatic—but then I realized that my daily battle uniform was a thing of the past.
My new look? A boxy pair of aqua-green hospital scrubs. Gone was the tailored pant; instead, I struggled to tighten a flimsy drawstring for some semblance of a waist. My structured blazer, with its functional pockets, was replaced by a thin, shapeless top. And whoever said hospital scrubs were supposed to be comfortable was lying. The chafing fabric was rough against my dry skin, restricting even the simplest movements. To make matters worse, every time I bent over to speak with a patient, untangle an IV line, or tie my shoe, the entire contents of my scrub’s breast pocket spilled onto the floor. UGH.
And Thus, Saunté Was Born
Santé is the French word for health—it exudes an elegant and refined way to take care of yourself. Saunté is the same word, but with a "u" right in the middle. Because this brand is about you.
When we look our best and feel our best, we are most empowered to take care of others to the best of our abilities.
