Paboy Bojang

In Casa by Paboy

Textile creator

©Giorgio Ghezzi

©Tommaso Vitiello

Filled with dreams

Paboy is a refugee from Gambia, now living in Naples
He makes colourful cotton cushion covers by hand
He learnt to sew when he was 13, at his uncle’s tailor shop

When he was a boy in Serrekunda, his home town in Gambia, Paboy Bojang dreamt of becoming a football player. But life had something different in store for him. His family was poor, so at 13 he left school and went to work in his uncle’s tailor shop, where he learnt to sew. "I used to make women’s clothes. After a while, I began to like it. I’ve always loved doing things with my hands." But Gambia was under a cruel dictatorship and when Paboy was 19, he fled the country. He travelled two long years before getting to Italy, where he sought asylum. "The journey through Senegal, Mali, Libya and the Mediterranean was a nightmare. I reached Naples in 2015 and lived in a refugee camp, then I found a job in a ceramic factory. I worked there for five years, until my asylum papers expired and were slow to be renewed." Then came Covid-19, and things got even worse.

Interview

©Giorgio Ghezzi

Why did you begin making cushion covers?: During lockdown, in the spring of 2020, I was bored and frustrated. My friend, Sophie, who had already helped me on many occasions, lent me an old sewing machine and some cotton fabric scraps, suggesting that I make something out of them to kill the time.
How did you find an audience?: I posted some pictures on Instagram, I was not expecting so much love and appreciation. I was just looking for something to live on. Nowadays I am sewing around 20 cushions a day, I’m collaborating with international designers like Paul Smith and I am able to employ a small team to help me.
Is there anything Gambian in your cushions?: Ruffles. The ruffles that characterise my covers are a typical feature of women’s clothes in my country. As well as bold hues. I learnt to play with colours when I was an apprentice at my uncle’s workshop. But my inspiration comes from Naples, too. I love the architecture, colours and atmosphere here.
Do you have any plans for the future?: My dream is to employ more and more fellow migrants, helping them to build bright futures here in Naples. As regards production, I’ve already extended it to table mats and runners, but sooner or later I’d like to make women’s clothes, too.

Paboy Bojang is a rising star: he began his career in 2020