Life changes lead to opportunity
Producing mindfully made leather goods at TABITHA + Co
Tabitha Co believes that every life experience and the people she met along the way, leading up to 2017, prepared her for the next chapter of her life.
As a young person, Co says she was always independent and driven. Even at that time in her life, the thought of owning her own business was an idea she tossed around.
“I have been sewing and making things since my youth,” she says.
She even held several positions in garment manufacturing during her younger career. This experience, she says, certainly aided in understanding many components of the making process, from the use of industrial machines, pattern making, to minimizing waste.
It wasn't until some personal life changes forced her to reflect and rethink how she would move forward in her life that she started to make these changes.
“I put my fear of the unknown aside and stepped into the world of entrepreneurship,” says Co.
In 2017, she started working extensively with leather and began making leather bags, while mentoring under Nova Scotian leather master craftsman Paul Marcella. Through him, she learned the art and craft of making fine leather handbags and other accessories.
Then, in 2018 TABITHA + CO was registered as an official business. Her first pop-up shop was held in Pictou that summer.
“This quaint historic little town is now the place that my business and I call home,” she says.
Today, still based in Pictou, TABITHA + CO is a mindfully made leather goods company with a signature leather collection of one-of-a-kind pieces.
“You can take them from yoga class to your lunch meeting and long into the evening,” she writes on her website. “These classic pieces will become treasured essentials that only get better with age.”
Many of the design styles are popular, says Co, but if she had to choose just one, she said it would be her travel tab bag.
Co says she enjoys making each design style chosen by her clients.
“For me, the most joy comes from witnessing in person or learning firsthand how happy my clients are with their handmade and sometimes bespoke bags,” she says.
When it comes to inspiration for additional TAB collection pieces, Co says that comes from listening to her clients' needs and suggestions. She also looks to her surroundings in nature for inspiration.
There are many stories attached to TABITHA + CO. The most interesting ones, however, come from her clients sharing snippet details of their travel adventures, says Co. Some have travelled with the Travel Tab Bag, the Dayto-Day Tab Bag, or the Onthe-Go Tab Bag. Through her clients, it has been possible for her bags to travel worldwide.
“Through photo and detail sharing, to posting and tagging, my bags have popped up in Dubai enjoying a camel adventure on a desert safari; Paris while visiting the Eiffel Tower; Vatican Museums in Italy; Doi Suthep Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Moncton, New Brunswick during the 2019 ScotDance Canada Championship Series; and at the Edinburgh Castle, U.K. The list goes on,” she says.
Not only have her bags travelled internationally, but they have also been recognized around the world through various media outlets.
TABITHA + CO has been seen in British Vogue, British GQ, British Glamour, Abode2, The Maritime EDIT and most recently, she has been featured digitally in Shoutout LA . (https://shoutoutla.com/?s= TABITHA+%2B+CO+)
Through all this, Co is essentially a one-woman show,
managing the entire business day to day.
“However, I realized very quickly that to continue to grow the business, it was important to seek out other fields of expertise,” she says.
This means, when required, she enlists the help of some exceptional talent that assists her from time to time with other areas of the business that aren't in her field of expertise.
For example, most of the photography has been done by Valérie Leduc Photography and Christine Whelan Photography. The initial website creation was the work of Skysail Brand Marketing and Design. The day-to-day maintenance is done by Co, but she continues to work with all these women entrepreneurs for various services when required.
Even with all the successes of running a business, there are always challenges that can occur regardless of the type of business or where one sets up business, says Co.
“It's important to make the most of every situation and be grateful for each experience along the way. With each experience, comes learning and growth,” she says.
For Co, she says she is fortunate to have the support of her community near and far. This includes her physical community of Pictou County, where the business started, to her craft community and her community of clients that stretch to the West Coast of Canada, the United States and Europe. Without this diverse community support, my business would still be an idea on paper, she says.
As for future plans, Co says she is currently working on renovating a commercial space located on her property in Pictou. This space will allow for a larger studio workspace and a retail boutique and enable clients to see firsthand where the bags are made with the opportunity to make a purchase in person, she says.
For others who are thinking of starting their own business, Co says regardless of age, it's never too late to follow a passion in life. Unfortunately, most of the time, it's the fear of the unknown that holds us back from taking those next steps.
“My advice, take a leap of faith, believe in your abilities and anything is possible.”
Anyone interested in viewing or purchasing products from TABITHA + CO can find them at 13 Water St., Pictou or online at tabithaco.ca or Simons, Fabrique 1840.
She also accepts in-person appointments at her Pictou studio space, where individuals can view and try on the design styles that might be of interest.
Additionally, Co does regular independent pop-up shop events, as well as craft shows throughout Nova Scotia.
To learn where she will be next, individuals can sign-up for the company newsletter on the website or contact her directly.
As a member of the Canadian Craft Federation, a Citizen of Craft, a juried member with Craft Nova Scotia, Craft New Brunswick , Craft NB Online Shop and the PEI Crafts Council, her work can be found on these websites.