An application of straw for Haute Couture Embroidery.
Images: own photos, sketches, collage and embroidery.
As part of the CHANEL & King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Embroidery Fellowship, in partnership with Le19M, I explored the connection between traditional craft and sustainability — learning haute couture embroidery at Le19M (with Atelier Montex) and experimenting with natural materials like seeds, wood, and straw.
Straw in particular became central to the embroidery. I used offcuts from the millinery studio at Barley Court, aiming to give new value to a material that is overlooked. Despite its delicate nature, straw is incredibly versatile. A naturally sustainable, bio-based material that is easily cultivated in the UK and compostable at the end of its life, its cyclical nature reflects the harmony and renewal found within the gardens.
The final piece brings together natural dyeing, macramé, needlework, and tambour embroidery. It’s a celebration of the gardens in bloom, and the creative potential of reclaimed materials.