We are incredibly proud to have three RSN Degree Graduates selected for The Métiers d’Art Embroidery Fellowship, a 24-week programme with CHANEL & The Prince’s Foundation Métiers d’Art Fellowship in Partnership with Le19M.
Read RSN Degree Graduate Eliza’s Story:
When I applied for the Métiers d’Art Embroidery Fellowship back in December 2022, I only dreamed about being selected as one of six candidates to be part of such a prestigious 6-month programme. I had a panel interview located at Highgrove Gardens, with The Prince’s Foundation education team.
The interview involved bringing along a selection of my work from my portfolio, including my graduate final piece from the RSN. The interview was roughly 10- 15 minutes long and followed by this was a tour of the studios and facilities that would be provided during the programme. Highgrove is a truly nature inspiring place as it is in the vicinity of Highgrove House and gardens, the private residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
When I received the news that my application was successful, I felt extremely honoured and exhilarated for the journey ahead of me. I started the programme on the 30th of January, and on the first week I went on a trip to Le19M in Paris.
I found this experience inspiring and rewarding as it involved Ecole Lesage Level 1 training and tours of the ateliers Lesage, Montex and Lemarié. I was also fortunate enough to have visited the archives, a dream come true for any embroidery/textile enthusiast. To be immersed within an embroidery fuelled world was an experience like no other!
During the programme I received tuition from expert embroidery tutors to complete Ecole Lesage level 1 and 2 training. This first stage of the programme provided me with a high standard of accuracy, speed and confidence in tambour, a key embroidery technique used in the luxury fashion industry.
The second stage was about my own project development. This involved responding to a brief, taking inspiration from Highgrove Gardens to build a strong concept and narrative. I was able to draw directly from the gardens to inspire experimental embroidery, that adhere to a luxury standard and considered appropriate for Haute Couture.
Throughout the programme I took part in presentations to improve my confidence in speaking about my practice and gain professional feedback. workshops hosted by a variety of textile practitioners and lecturers. This helped me to develop a refined personal practice and portfolio, suitable for progression onto apprenticeships, ateliers, or craft /fashion businesses to support the luxury fashion industry.
I went on a second trip to Paris during the development stage of the programme, to be part of an atelier immersion at Le19M. I was selected to work on my project at Lesage, alongside my fellow graduate Elsa. This experience included industry insights and mentorships from leading experts in the field of couture embroidery.
I was fortunate enough to gain feedback and advice from the creative director and granted access to the atelier’s extensive material supplies and stock rooms. I feel I benefited greatly from this experience as it gave me an insight into the professional world of embroidery practice for fashion. I acquired a deeper understanding of the processes involved through its production.
During the final stage of the programme, I worked on finalising an embroidery design for a panel on a garment. The process involved consolidating ideas from my embroidery sampling, creating a series of visualisations, and translating the final concept into a hand drawn embroidery design for a pattern piece.
Once the design and placement were refined, I worked on creating technical plans and material keys to direct the embroidery production. I worked on the final embroidery for five weeks and completed it on the 10th of July.
I feel extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to be part of The Métiers d’Art Partnership, Embroidery programme. It was an intensive educational and skill building experience and I feel privileged to have met and been mentored by highly skilled creative professionals from CHANEL, The Prince’s Foundation and Le19M. The industry contacts I have acquired will benefit me greatly when seeking potential employment opportunities in the next chapter of my embroidery journey.
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Image Credits: Ana Clark
