Two brothers started a phone-case side hustle to pay dental school fees. It grew into a $50 million luxury brand

What began as an attempt to keep one brother in dental school became an international luxury accessories business.

New Zealand-born brothers Omar and Zane Sabré, founders of Australian luxury leather goods brand Maison de Sabré, started their business after their father's leukaemia diagnosis put the family's finances under pressure.

Omar was working as a dentist in New Zealand, while Zane was pursuing a dentistry degree on Australia's Gold Coast. When their parents could no longer afford Zane's university fees, the brothers decided to build an alternative source of income.


Their starting point was a personalised leather phone case.

Why did the Sabré brothers start Maison de Sabré?

The idea emerged from a family financial crisis.

Omar was already practising dentistry when their father was diagnosed with leukaemia. Zane, meanwhile, was studying dentistry at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

His education came with substantial tuition fees. As a New Zealand student in Australia, Zane struggled to meet the costs as his family’s circumstances changed.

The Revenue

The business launched in 2017 and went on to generate millions in revenue. By August 2024, Maison de Sabré was reporting annual revenue of $50 million, according to Forbes Australia.

Maison de Sabré made $1.7 million in revenue in its first year alone. Forbes Australia reported that Maison de Sabré generated approximately $10 million in revenue during its first two years.

ALSO READ: A Minnesota couple built a business around rice harvested from lakes and rivers. Now it eyes $50,000 more in annual revenue

Zane told the New Zealand Herald that "we had the idea of producing a high-quality phone case, something that people use and have visible daily, but it took us a year to get to launch.”

The making of Maison De Sabre

Omar and Zane Sabre started with market research and product development. They launched the final product in July 2018.

It did not take long for the business to become a full-time venture rather than a mere side hustle.

"We were operating in two different countries using Google Docs and Skype, and every other week I would fly to the Gold Coast because I still had patients to see during the week," Omar said.

"We always knew we wanted to create our own business, and for at least a decade we've been looking at it," said Zane. He further added, ‘Our dad's illness really pushed us to do it earlier than we anticipated, but the risk paid off."

Maison de Sabre was a completely self-funded business. Omar would pay Zane’s university fees and put aside the rest as capital for the business.

"We paid fees for one semester, and all the remaining money went into the business. We really wanted it and needed it to work," Omar Sabre said.

Sabre brothers' business has now expanded to more than 131 countries.

"We took a calculated risk, but we had done market research to make sure people would like what we wanted to produce and what the trends were, and then we nosedived into it."

Maison De Sabre founders claim that the company has grown from a team of three to twenty-five, and their year-on-year growth has skyrocketed to 500%.

They say the key to setting up a successful start-up is to remain passionate. "Passion will keep you driven. There is no better reason to start something than having passion for something that is new," Omar said.

Zane said that one needs passion to succeed in business, as it drives you and helps you execute your strategy.

While writing about its founders, Maison De Sabre website says, "Omar and Zane Sabré launched MAISON de SABRÉ in 2017 as a deeply creative outlet. Inspired by the world’s most exceptional materials, true innovation and exemplary craftsmanship, the brothers are famed for pushing boundaries to redefine contemporary luxury. MAISON de SABRÉ pieces inspire a global community of thought leaders to celebrate the potential within themselves and those around them."

Where is Maison de Sabré now?

The company has gone far beyond the product that was its identity.

What started with custom leather phone cases has grown into a larger luxury accessories business that caters to an international clientele.

In January 2026, Inside Retail spoke to the brothers about the company’s expansion plans and how it is handling luxury retail. The interview highlighted its growing focus on handbags, bag charms, craftsmanship, selective retail expansion, and brand collaborations.

They also talk about how their dental background has influenced their design philosophy, especially their attention to detail.

ALSO READ: Investment of £1000 snowballed into a £253 million net worth: Inside Husband & Wife Daniel and Melanie Marsden's thriving brand

In an interview, published by Fashion Mannuscript in June 2026, Omar is the business’s creative director while Zane is the operational and financial director.

But what began as a practical attempt to fund university education gradually developed into a long-term business.

FAQs

1. Who founded Maison de Sabré?
   Maison de Sabré was founded by brothers Omar and Zane Sabré, who were originally pursuing careers in dentistry before entering the luxury accessories business.
2. When was Maison de Sabré founded?
   Maison de Sabré was founded in 2017. The brand's first product was a personalised leather phone case.
3. Why did Omar and Zane Sabré start their company?
   The brothers started the business after their father's leukaemia diagnosis placed financial pressure on the family and affected its ability to fund Zane's dental education.
4. How much revenue does Maison de Sabré generate?
   Forbes Australia reported annual revenue of $50 million in August 2024. [VERIFY] A comparable annual revenue figure for 2026 has not been established from the sources reviewed.