ABOUT US
WHO ARE WE??
FYBRE STUDIO is a contemporary tufting studio based in Johannesburg, working across custom rugs, collectible textile artworks, and in-depth tufting education. Our practice sits between interior design, material exploration, and contemporary art, blurring the boundaries between function and expression.
Alongside introductory workshops, we offer advanced and artist-level classes for those looking to deepen their technical and conceptual understanding of tufting. These classes emphasise hands-on learning, small group instruction, and personalised mentorship, guiding participants through the full process—from design development and material selection to carving, finishing, and professional studio practices.
Education and accessibility are central to the studio’s ethos. Through workshops, artist programmes, and collaborative projects across South Africa, FYBRE STUDIO aims to introduce tufting to a wider audience while maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship and artistic integrity.
Education and accessibility are central to the studio’s ethos. Through workshops, artist programmes, and collaborative projects across South Africa, FYBRE STUDIO aims to introduce tufting to a wider audience while maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship and artistic integrity.
Textile art has a long and layered history, yet it has often been marginalised due to its association with femininity and domestic labour. At FYBRE STUDIO, we challenge this hierarchy by framing tufting as a contemporary fine art practice. By expanding perceptions of African and traditionally feminine art forms, we advocate for textile work that is conceptually rigorous, materially rich, and culturally relevant.
At its core, FyBRE STUDIO believes that tufting is for everyone, and that textile art belongs equally in the home, the studio, and the gallery.
FOUNDER
Sheriffah Arewa is a multidisciplinary artist and the founder of Fybre Studios. Her practice centres on tufting alongside painting, drawing, embroidery, and graphic design, with a strong focus on materiality, process, and contemporary textile expression.
She received formal training through the Global Tufting Association in Ulsan, South Korea, where she developed advanced technical skills and a critical understanding of tufting as an art form. Her approach has been shaped by international experience, particularly in South Korea and London, as well as collaborations with galleries, collectives, and design studios.
Through Fybre Studios, Sheriffah is committed to expanding access to tufting education in South Africa while challenging the marginalisation of textile art within fine art discourse. Her work and teaching seek to position tufting as a serious, evolving practice that bridges functionality, cultural narrative, and contemporary design.