Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Janke.
Sarah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my journey in grad school, and I had just finished my first interview when everything shifted. I was offered the chance to work in a showroom, and that experience opened my eyes to the other side of the textile industry. It pushed me to see design in a more intentional way. My first launch grew out of that moment. It centered around the places I had lived, the memories I held close, and the motifs that came from the cities and countries I had traveled through.
That project became the spark for Sarah Janke Textiles. I realized that I did not only want to sketch or imagine patterns. I wanted to build cohesive collections, create something real that had a story behind it, and develop a lead pattern with thoughtful companions. I became very focused on colorways and scale choices and how the smallest decisions could make a pattern feel alive. When Voyage Dallas featured me early in this journey, I was grateful, and I am excited to share how much I have grown since that time.
As I developed my studio practice, I also learned how important it is to build strong relationships with the people who help bring a vision to life. I found a seamstress I trust completely, and together we have created beautiful pillows with a quality and turnaround time that allow me to dream bigger. I really believe that good work is rooted in the connections you make with your vendors and collaborators.
Personally, this new collection that launches at the end of February represents a real turning point for me. The colors reflect new changes in my life and a growing confidence in myself as an artist. I feel established in Dallas in a way I did not before, and working at the Nasher Sculpture Center has played a huge part in that. I am surrounded by a team that supports my creativity, and I even get to lead textile related workshops for adult members. Being trusted in that way has only strengthened my sense of agency. It has reminded me that I can guide, create, and express myself without hesitation.
This all comes together in Heroines, my new collection that arrives in late February. Heroines honors the strength, complexity, and inner worlds of women and the narratives they carry. It feels personal, deeply curated, and full of intention. With vibrant colors, rich florals, and other layered designs, I hope anyone who brings Heroines into their home can feel the same sense of strength, history, and transformation that inspired me while creating it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road, but every challenge shaped me into the artist I am now. The difficulties showed up in two ways. First, the textile industry is competitive and it can be very hard to get your foot in the door. Second, I had to work through my own self doubt and insecurities about my artistic practice. I think most creatives understand what it feels like to question yourself, so I never see that as a flaw. It is just part of the process.
When I first stepped into textiles, I thought it would feel different from the fine art world. In fine art, getting into a gallery can feel impossible, almost like the doors only open for a chosen few. I hoped textiles might feel more open, but the reality is that it is also a small, tightly knit world. People protect their space. You have to show that you are serious, consistent, and committed. That was a real lesson for me.
Before I established myself, I was nannying and babysitting quite a bit, and I would tell people that I was also a designer. That honesty opened small doors. I took on whatever work came my way. I designed placemats, holiday gift wrap, dish towels, and any project that allowed me to build my skills. Those early jobs mattered, and they only happened because people around me believed in me.
As cliché as it may sound, I did not feel like I truly belonged in the textile world until I felt anchored in my Dallas community. The support I found here helped me move from insecurity to confidence, and that sense of belonging allowed me to focus on creating work that feels authentic and meaningful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a surface designer, my work centers on creating original patterns for the creative home. I design pieces that can live comfortably in spaces like your kitchen, dining room, or bedroom, and each pattern is crafted with the intention of bringing beauty and intention into everyday life. All of my designs are digital, which allows them to be used together or on their own, giving clients the freedom to curate a look that feels personal and cohesive.
My process is a blend of traditional and modern approaches. Some patterns begin as hand drawn repeats that I scan and refine in Illustrator, using the same techniques that have shaped textile design for decades. My most recent work, including this new collection, grew out of a personal challenge I set for myself. I committed to creating a new repeat every day for thirty days on my iPad using Procreate. I did not begin that challenge with a collection in mind. I simply wanted to grow as an artist and get more comfortable with my stylus. The drawings that came out of that practice surprised me. They sparked ideas, and those ideas grew into the collection I am preparing to launch now.
I am most proud of the fact that I do not create with trends in mind. My work comes from my own imagination, the literature I love, the places I have traveled to, and the people and moments that inspire me. That approach sets me apart. It allows me to meet each client where they are instead of chasing clicks or shaping my work around what might be popular online. Every aspect of the work I do with a client can be customizable from color to scale. We begin with a pattern and finish with a partnership.
On the production side, my process is efficient and fully based in the United States. Because everything is digital and printed here, I do not need to send files abroad or navigate complicated steps to bring my work to life. The turnaround time is often quicker than average, and the quality stays high from start to finish. My goal is always to create artwork that feels meaningful and thoughtful while also being accessible for clients who want something beautiful and lasting in their homes.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Early in my career, I watched a webinar hosted by Spoonflower that completely changed the way I understood digital repeats. Seeing that process broken down so clearly opened a new world for me. It taught me that digital design could be approachable and creative at the same time, and it pushed me to experiment in ways I had not tried before.
Another surprisingly important tool in my practice has been my stylus. I use a knockoff version rather than the official one by Apple and it has been a complete game changer. It feels like it is me and my stylus taking on the design world together, and that simple tool has given me so much freedom to sketch anywhere and build a more consistent creative routine.
I also love getting lost in a good coffee table book. I spend a lot of time studying the textiles, the colors, the way patterns are placed on the page, and how each book creates its own sense of space. I always end up feeling inspired after flipping through them. It also motivates me to imagine seeing my own coffee table book one day. That vision pushes me to keep growing, learning, and creating work that feels worthy of that dream.
Pricing:
- Transparent pricing
- Very client driven
- One-on-one consulting and collaborative
- Currently, consulting is free as I continue to build – snap up the opportunity now!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahjanke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahljanke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjanke9089/
Image Credits
Karina Kucherova
Sarah Janke
Anna Smith
