Out with the (c)OLD! and in with 30% off spring styles 🌷🌷 SHOP SPRING CLEANING
After 11 years in the same spot, Bow & Arrow owner Tash Ianni decided it was time for a change. She picked up shop's immaculate curation of artisan goods from around the globe and put down new roots in Brookvale, an up-and-coming artists' district outside of Sydney, Australia. And the new space less like a traditional boutique and more like your well-traveled friend's studio apartment (but everything is for sale and there's a barista). We chatted with owner Tash about the new digs, where she finds inspiration, her new neighborhood, and more.
Tell us about the origins of your shop. What made you want to open a boutique to begin with?
Tash: The store was founded 11 years ago and largely came from a desire to discover pieces that couldn’t be readily found everywhere. Australia is a vast and beautiful continent, however, we are so far away from the rest of the world. It can feel quite isolating, especially as a creative.
Artists from Australia often travel a lot or move overseas to better explore their own desires to create. I deeply resonate with this feeling, so the store is really an extension of that desire to travel, collects, source and facilitate a space where the offering is slightly off-beat and gives a voice to the stories of artists from all around the world.
Eleven years is a long time in one location! What prompted the move?
It really is! I don’t think I realized how huge it was until I was knee-deep in it.
After 11 years of business, I believe you need to reflect and take stock. The world is ever-changing, particularly in the last couple of years. I really believe we are in a creative revolution. The old ways are gone, which is really exciting as it makes room for new pathways and endless possibilities. At the very heart of B&A (and it really is all heart) is art—honoring art in all its forms, from the artisans we feature to the artists we work with.
To honor that relationship to keep evolving, we felt we needed to align ourselves to new ground that felt more fertile. Brookvale in Sydney is quickly becoming like an old Brooklyn, NY. Which just means it’s creating space for artists to work and thrive in.
What were you envisioning for your new space and how did that come to life?
Our store now functions as a studio—a place where we can create, but also a studio apartment where everything is shoppable. It’s very multi-functional.
It’s essentially like hanging out in your best mate's apartment full of artisan wares and furniture sourced from all over the world. We also have a coffee station and a bar. We wanted to give our customers time and space to explore, relax, and shop without rushing. It’s enabled us to spend more time with our customers and chat properly. We also host pop-up events focused on food to connect people to each other in the community. It’s a whole new experience.
What products are you most excited to carry this season?
We are so excited about traveling to Europe more often to find and discover unique pieces. We want to collaborate more with the artisans we find on our travels and continue to bring back pieces that boast rich storytelling. One brand we have discovered is Prima de Sur. The lovely women behind this fabulous brand work with artisans in Chile to create beautifully crafted pieces that convey a rich history—adding so much more value to something you can love and treasure for a long time to come.
Where do you source your vintage pieces?
I have always been a lover and admirer of old, well-made pieces. My mother has an incredible eye and she influenced me enormously when it comes to unearthing a treasure from a long time ago. The thrill of the find is a bug I caught very early on. So, the store has always had a vintage offering, pieces we’ve discovered on our travels have always found a place in the store.
The combination of the old and new has been part of our aesthetic from the beginning. The sustainable component of offering vintage pieces means we will be focusing on finding more beloved treasures to add to our curation.
What do you love about your new neighborhood?
We love the history that Brookvale holds. It always has been a home for artists of all kinds—from the older generation of immigrants that came here and opened mechanic garages to the unassuming studios and, now, all the microbreweries, bakeries, florists, art galleries, cafes, and nightlife. It’s evolving and will eventually become an exciting arts precinct. More importantly, it will hold space for young Aussie artists who desperately need room to grow and expand and be supported.
There’s a Greek proverb that I hold close to my heart: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” It’s a huge motivator for me. We want to build something of value. We want to be part of that movement, part of that creative renaissance, something I believe is so important and something we all desperately need, now more than ever.
