OUR STORY

While Salty Stripe may not have a traditional start-up origin, its creator, Sam Spasoff, and her passion for design make its story just as meaningful. Sam lives with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) along with three other chronic and invisible illnesses. During days of fatigue and rest, she discovered a creative outlet in designing graphic prints to brighten her space. What began as a personal escape soon became a passion, allowing her to immerse herself in a world beyond her medical challenges.

 

Encouraged by friends and family who admired her work, Sam decided to share her designs more widely, leading to the launch of her own graphic design shop. When choosing a name, she wanted something trendy, unique, and deeply personal—thus, Salty Stripe was born. The name carries special meaning: individuals with POTS often require increased sodium intake as part of their treatment (Salty), while the term Stripe nods to the zebra, a symbol for rare and chronic illnesses. Additionally, the initials “SS” reflect Sam’s own name, adding another personal touch.

 

As her passion for design grew, Sam expanded her work beyond prints, creating custom logo designs for bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, small businesses, sororities, charity events, and more. Now in her senior year at Penn State University, Sam balances her academics, Salty Stripe, and her role as a graphic designer for the Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team. In this position, she continues to refine her craft, creating dynamic visuals that enhance the team’s brand while making a lasting impact through her creative work.