Sharidan Bowman, Designer of Tuckshop Knits is not only a talented woman, she is bloody hilarious. I’ve been following her over on Instagram for a while now, and she always puts a huge grin on my face.
I came for the colourful knitwear and I stayed for her hilarious humour.
Her wit and banter is enough to put you in a good mood, sure, but it’s her colourful and vivacious knitwear that will surely lift your spirits.
Founded in 2018, started producing her happy garments for Tuckshop Knits on a vintage knitting machine, which her mother (a successful knitwear designer in her own right) taught her to use.
Each Tuckshop Knit piece is lovingly handcrafted in Sharidan’s Melbourne studio using locally sourced Merino wool from Regional Victoria, and according to Sharidan is also mixed with a healthy dose of ‘colourful wool, smooth fm, coffee and cursing’, – the perfect measure of a craftsperson loving work.
With a different business model to most labels out there, Sharidan opens orders once a month so you can grab yourself a sustainable, ethical and colourful knit custom made just for you.
Her testimonials are proof that injecting a little colour into your wardrobe is like magic for the soul.
Today I chat to Sharidan about her journey to becoming a knitwear designer, her inspirations, and what’s next for this bright and bold Melbourne brand. Read on below.
And be sure to follow Sheridan at @tuckshopknits on Instagram.
Can you tell us a little about yourself, your background and what led you to launching Tuckshop Knits?
Howdy! I’m Sharidan, mother of Hannah, wife of Norman and knitter of all things wooly! Knitting is something I got into only a few years ago though creativity has always been something that brings me joy.
Before Tuckshop I was a serial uni student, completing two degrees in psychology/sociology and marketing. Somewhere in between there I became a qualified makeup artist as well which was the perfect creative outlet in my early 20s while I studied.
Teenage Sharidan always imagine working in an office environment (yes I have always been THIS rock n’ roll) and so my goal, for as long as I can remember, was to land a traditional “businessy” job… but when I finally started working in marketing for a bathroom and kitchen renovation company I found it incredibly mundane and a little depresso. Every day was the same and I found myself staring at the clock from lunch time until 5pm.
My mum knew how unhappy I was working a traditional 9-5 and how much a craved the creativity i used to enjoy so much so she offered to teach me how to machine knit.
Back in the 80s my mum had an uber successful machine knitting business, where she ended up moving to Washington DC and selling her wears in the local department stores to support herself and my dad while he completed business school. I remember as a child, fawning over old Polaroids of her knits and admiring my mum’s absolutely bananas retro hairstyles and makeup 😂. It’s the fun and colour I saw in these photos that were the true inspiration behind Tuckshop. And that’s where it all began!
I love the name of your brand. Can you tell us how it came about?
Tuckshop was a last minute name change just before I launched back in 2018. Up until then I had actually settled on the name Knitwit but it just didn’t feel right.
I wanted something that encapsulated a sense of fun and nostalgia. I wanted to create a brand that would bring as much joy as a $1 bag of mixed lollies used to bring me as a child, as much joy as a chocolate Big M used to bring me on a hot afternoon… without the diabetes.
How would you describe your brand/work in 3 words?
Fun. Colourful. Handmade.
You create custom order, hand made knitwear which is a very different process to today’s fast fashion world. Can you give us some insight into your process? How do you work, create your pieces etc?
I always begin the design process by thinking about what I would actually want to wear… as someone who works predominately by themselves this is my go to starting point. If I am unsure of a particular design element I actually head straight to Instagram stories and ask “The People” who, at the end of the day, are who I’m making for. Recently, I decided to redesign my cardigan pattern so I waddled over to IG and asked everyone if they were happy with buttons or no buttons, pockets or no pockets etc. The amazing thing about having an engaged audience is the sense of community you feel in situations like this… I actually feel like I am designing and creating with the amazing people who have chosen to be a part of the Tuckshop “family”.
Custom orders have been so incredibly popular ever since I launched them officially last year. Again, it feels like I am designing a one off piece alongside the person who is actually going to wear it. Whilst a custom order does not include any fit changes (though a little less or little extra length on the body is no dramas) people get to choose whatever colour combination they like which adds a certain level of individuality and “one of a kindness” that is severely lacking in mainstream fashion.
What does a day in the studio look like for you?
I work Monday to Thursday (and sometimes on the weekend if I can find the time/energy) at the moment so the day starts with convincing a toddler she actually does like childcare, packing her up in the car and dropping her off. Then I spend a solid 45 minutes recovering from that whole situation before I start work for the day.
The great thing about owning your own business is that no two days look the same! Some days I’ll be at my studio in my parents back yard where I knit the individual pieces that make up a jumper or cardigan on my motorised knitting machines (affectionately known as Bert and Ernie), some days I’ll be in my home study constructing said pieces into a finished product on my original manual knitting machine Betsy… other days I’m creating social media content or packing orders and doing admin! Work usually finishes around 4 so I can start dinner and pick up Hannah.
What are some resources you use for inspiration?
Gosh this is going to sound pervy but I’m literally looking at everyone when I am out and about. If I’m walking to the shops, dropping Hannah off at childcare or going to see a movie I am constantly on the outlook for new colour combinations, styles, cuts, designs… literally anything that can spark that little creative flame and inspire me to make something my own.
Tv, movies, Instagram, Pinterest these are all places I look to for inspiration but the every day person is the greatest source for me as I want Tuckshop to be both fun and functional… pieces you can wear in daily life.
The past few years have been quite challenging for the Industry. Can you tell us about how Covid affected your practice and what changes you’ve made if any?
We were very lucky that in 2020 when it all started, we were living with my parents. Not only was I a stones throw away from my backyard studio but we also had two extra set of hands to help with a (then) baby so I could get more work done.
For me, 2020 was actually my best year in business can you believe it? It was a time when lockdowns still held some sort of novelty when everyone was still excited to have dress up zoom parties and make fancy cocktails . The lethargy hadn’t kicked in yet, people were still kind of happy and had money to spend because they couldn’t go anywhere. Actually I have never worked as hard as I did in 2020 and by the end of it I realised that it was not a sustainable way to run a business. That’s when I instated the order process I have in place now where I open orders once a month and close them once I have reached my production limit for that month. It helps stem the flow of orders and keeps my stress levels in check.
Tell us about some of the people in the industry who inspire you and why?
I’m a massive fan the colourful fashion from the 80s so I love me a bit of Jenny Kee and Ken Done. Also I am still constantly inspired by the knits my mum used to make, they are proper amazing.
What would your dream project/collaboration be? Anyone you’d love to dress?
I think Chloe and Kate from Jericho Road have to be really high on that list. Those prints and styles are amazing and I own so many of their pieces now I’ve lost count!
As far as who I would love to dress? that’s easy! My dream trio would be Em Rusciano, Tanya Hennessy and Katherine sabbath.
What are your top 5 wardrobe must haves?
Beanie and scarf (obvs), Elastic wasted pants, fun socks and to be honest? Massive nanna undies 😂
Where is your favourite place to shop in Melbourne?
You Me and Bones, Variety Hour, Pinky’s, & Think Thornbury.
What’s next for Tuckshop Knits?
Well… the next thing for Tuckshop is pushing out baby number 2, surviving summer with a toddler and a newborn and then getting back into what I love to do before winter 2023 hits!