In 1872, the Royal School of Needlework was founded on two key principles – the first, the preservation of hand embroidery as an art form and the second, the support of women’s independence through work. In the intervening 150 years, the RSN’s journey towards these goals has taken many unexpected forms and featured countless high-profile projects.

The exhibition presented collaborations with the great names of the Arts and Crafts movement, commissions produced for the British royal family, contemporary works created for top, international designers and pieces by our talented students.  This in-depth retrospective presented textiles from the Royal School of Needlework’s 5,000-piece archive, alongside examples from museums and collections across the UK.

‘150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk’ was at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, which is situated in the heart of fashionable Bermondsey Village at 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF.

Thank you to the Fashion and Textile Museum, all the exhibitors, staff and volunteers, and the thousands of visitors that attended!