Tab Sejoe is the owner and founder of design label Feather & Spear. With work heavily influenced by her childhood memories of the semi arid landscapes of the Botswana savanna, Tab has created a truly stunning line of textiles and homewares. Colour Box Studio first came across Tab’s creative offerings way back in 2013 as part of our second pop up shop – nine years on, it’s inspiring to see how her creative practice has evolved. In this interview, Tab discusses her creative evolution through photography and illustration and what we can expect from her craft workshop at our upcoming event: Junction Footscray.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your creative practice.
Born in Botswana, I am a Naarm based artist and have now, very happily added Textile Designer to my creative tool box.
How did you start your creative practice and why?
I like to say I have lived many lives, and with each, a creative practice to match. It has been evolution to get to where I am now creatively, even since I last spoke to Colour Box Studio.
I started with studying photography at uni, though my first love (as a child) was illustration. I found my way back to illustration when I started my own design label Feather & Spear over 10yrs ago, creating screen-printed cards with my original artwork. The constant throughout, has been a love for image-making and being able to share my story through it.
Where did you grow up and has it influenced what you create?
My work is heavily influenced by my childhood in Botswana. Growing up both here and there, my connection to my birthplace and family has always been explored through my work, whether I intended it or not. From the cards I designed as an expression of memories of my grandmother’s farm, to now a whole collection of textiles inspired by the semi arid landscapes, textures and colours of the savanna as I remember it.
Tell us about your past creative projects. What has been a highlight so far?
One of my biggest creative highlights was finally finding my way into textile design and studying it after taking a break from creating as Feather & Spear. What most people don’t know is, textiles with my own designs were always my plan when I first started designing cards, though at the time I didn’t know that there was a name for the practice, nor how to go about it. Designing textiles now allows me to use all of the creative arsenal I have collected over the years, and I couldn’t be happier.
Where do you feel most creative?
I think I have said many times before, I feel most creative when I don’t have bills to pay and I can feel the sunshine right down to my bones!
What gets you through challenging creative/ industry times?
Knowing wholeheartedly that this is what I am meant to be doing in life is what gets me through those challenging times. Even during COVID, which is when I was studying, the thought of quitting was always countered with, but this is what makes me happiest.
Whose work are you digging at the moment?
I am really loving the work of Indian-Australian visual artist Sid Pattni, who creates stunning portraits with a mix of painting and stitching.
What future projects are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to seeing where my textile art and design take me, along with the release of a collaborative textile collection later this year. In the immediate future, I am looking forward to being involved with Junction Footscray and being able to share a different side of my creativity which I haven’t been able to in a little while.
What can we expect to see in terms of your involvement in Junction Footscray?
At Junction Footscray, you can definitely expect a lot of colour and an experimental approach to creating some keepsake cards and prints. It is the most fun and freeing way to be expressive!
Where can we find and follow you online?
You can follow my design work on instagram @featherandspear. Tab Sejoe Textiles Website: https://tab-sejoe-textiles.myshopify.com/