Beanies and scarves from the Block Head collection – designed and made by tuckshop
Tuckshop is a brand spankin’ new knitwear label created by Sharidan Bowman in Melbourne, Australia. Back in the 80s Sharidan’s mum used to make wonderfully obnoxious jumpers on her own knitting machine to sell on the high streets of Washington DC.
Sharidan begged her Mum to teach her all the tricks and then spent time perfecting techniques and developing design concepts. From there, Tuckshop was born, featuring premium quality 100% Australian wool knits, beanies and scarves.
Catch Tuckshop and their Finders Keepers Melbourne debut this 13-15 July at the Royal Exhibition Building.
How did you come to be a seller at Finders Keepers?
I have always been a creative person, which I think was really fostered by my parents when I was young – my weekends and school holidays were filled with papier- mâché classes, pottery workshops and a seriously unfortunate run of creative dance lessons.
In my twenties I was a makeup artist with Mecca Cosmetica for a few years and then took a sharp left turn into Marketing for a small bathroom and kitchen renovation company. After a while however, I started to crave the creative process I enjoyed so much years prior. After various creative endeavours, I serendipitously fell in to machine knitting, which is something my mum successfully did over 30 years ago.
Bubble Gum beanie & Violet Crumble scarf from the Block Head collection – designed and made by tuckshop
Beanies and scarves from the Block Head collection – designed and made by tuckshop
Talk us through a typical day in the life of Tuckshop.
I usually ease myself into the day with a coffee and start binding off scarves/seaming beanies before breakfast. I head over to my studio (otherwise known as my old bedroom at my parents’ house) just before lunch to start knitting on my vintage Singer knitting machine – aka Betsy the Singer.
You’ll find me knitting there most of the day listening to Cameron Daddo telling me to relax with a glass of red on Smooth F.M. Around 6pm I’ll head home, have dinner, and then continue binding off scarves and seaming beanies. I am now just realising that my day is based solely on knitting and eating food… and I’m pretty happy with that.
Who inspires you and your creative process?
My mum is a huge inspiration. She actually had a knitting business for ten years before I was born, making and selling jumpers in Washington D.C. in the 80’s. My mum is the one who taught me how to use a knitting machine and I still go to her now if I’m having an issue I can’t sought out!
Miami Vice beanie & Fifty Shades scarf and George beanie & Miami Vice scarf from the Block Head collection – designed and made by tuckshop
Beanies and scarves from the Block Head collection – designed and made by tuckshop
Tell us about your inspiration for creativity?
The colour combinations for my first range Block Head were inspired by things I see around on the street, TV, books… life in general. I have a colour-way named after Starbursts (RIP), another named after the awesome colours of Miami Vice. I even have one inspired by a suit George Calombaris wore on Master Chef last year.
I’m a massive fan of the shapes and colours Peter Cromer uses in his collages and paintings and am inspired every day by his three prints I have in my living room. Also I am resigned to the fact that I will leave FK covered head to toe in new jewellery… I’m looking at you Kingston Jewellery, Yippywhippy and Nannawoo.
What has been your proudest moment to date?
I officially launched 3 weeks ago so honestly?… Getting in to Finders Keepers!
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Violet Crumble beanie & Poppy scarf from the Block Head collection – designed and made by tuckshop