Meet Tess Twigden – Stylist, Photographer, and Vintage Curator

We’re thrilled to introduce the very first muse in our Kindred Creatives series — the beautiful and deeply inspiring Tess Twigden. Tess is a stylist, photographer, and vintage collector whose world is wrapped in soft light, slow mornings, and timeless treasures.

Through her lens, Tess captures the poetry of rural life and the charm of bygone eras — each frame telling a quiet story of nostalgia, beauty, and intentional living. Whether she’s styling a shoot, curating vintage finds, or capturing a gentle moment at home, Tess brings a thoughtful stillness to everything she creates.

Her love for slow fashion is woven into every detail of her work — making her a natural and heartfelt friend of Eva Cassis.

Join us as we step into Tess’s world and explore what inspires her creativity, how she approaches conscious dressing, and why vintage and slow fashion feel like kindred spirits.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you create?   My name is Tess Twigden and I am a freelance photographer/ stylist / bowerbird. I have a small business, Bowerbirds Vintage, alongside my mum, Honey, sourcing and selling second-hand treasures via Instagram as well as our shed-turned-shop. I live on a four hectare farm in Ashbourne, South Australia with my husband, Tom and our two daughters, Marlowe, nine, and six year old Mae.

 

What sparked your passion for your craft, and how did you get started?   My love for photography started after the birth of my first daughter, Marlowe, and I haven't stopped taking photos of her and her sister since! The Bowerbirds Vintage idea came about in 2020 alongside my parents, my parents have always been out 'picking' and selling at markets and my love for styling and photography made the idea grow. My parents house was described as a museum, with my mum forever bringing things in and out, I think it just rubbed off on me over the years. In early 2022 we transformed an old hay shed on our farm into a shopfront, providing a permanent space for photoshoots, storage and all the packing and wrapping. We love our monthly Open Shop Days where we can meet like minded souls. 

Where do you find inspiration for your work?   When it comes to photography inspiration can be found everywhere, from a walk down our dirt road to creatives on social media. My home, traveling, baking, a great book, I find beauty in watching the light change.

What does a typical day in your creative world look like?   With Bowerbirds Vintage it's about sourcing unique pieces and then styling our treasures to inspire, followed by photographing them, editing the images and then producing content for social media. 

 

What does slow fashion mean to you?   It's about quality over quantity in my wardrobe. It's about mindfulness towards brands who make ethical and sustainable decisions when producing their clothes. It always needs to be natural fibers for me too.

 

How does sustainability influence your own creative work?   I am a lover of second-hand treasures, I love nothing more than restoring antique furniture pieces, it adds to their character and charm whilst reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfill. I love how each piece has its own story, rich with history, something you can not buy mainstream. 

 

What do you love most about Eva Cassis garments?   Eva's fabrics and pieces have a luxury handmade feel to them which I adore. They are timeless, effortless and made from natural fibers which I can wear throughout the different seasons. 

 

Do you have a favourite Eva Cassis piece? How do you like to style it?   I love all my Eva Cassis dresses but my favourite is my pinstripe linen dress with the red stitching detail, complete with matching belt. I can pair it with my R.M. Williams boots or my leather sandals and did I mention this dress has pockets too, game changer!

Do you have any cherished pieces in your wardrobe with a special story?   Perhaps my most cherished piece might be my Baba, Tania (my grandmothers) traditional Ukrainian embroidered top. A very special piece to remember her always. 

 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to embrace slow fashion or a more creative life, what would it be?   My advice for embracing a more creative life would be do something everyday (even if it's small) which makes you happy, which you love! Creativity comes from knowing yourself so discover what brings joy to your life. 

 

Where can people find your work and connect with you?   My Instagram @twigsandvines and @bowerbirdsvintage