Modern Collaborations

The RSN has worked with many designers and artists on projects throughout its history. In the last decade these have been particularly varied, including working on the wedding dress of the Duchess of Cambridge for Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to collaborating with Kirstie Macleod on her Red Dress. Some of these projects were worked by the RSN Embroidery Studio while others involved students. The RSN has always seen these as great opportunities for students’ development, which help them to realise the challenges of working on someone else’s brief within a given time frame – valuable lessons for future professional careers.

Some of the RSN’s partnerships have extended over a series of projects, such as work for Patrick Grant’s E. Tautz menswear label, Susan Aldworth’s installations and Sheme shoes, a Chinese shoe company.

The most exciting aspect of these partnerships is that it is never known when the next one will occur and so the principles of collective working, that the finished piece looks like the work of one person and the policy of never a seat shall go cold, remain pertinent today.

Red Dress

Kirstie Macleod

Kirstie has taken this dress around the world to engage with women and makers everywhere and to give them a voice through stitch. The dress has been to the RSN twice where, most recently it was stitched on by Degree students from all three years and Future Tutors.

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Ostrich Feather Dress

2016

Tulle, ostrich feathers

Designed by Nicholas Oakwell, the RSN was asked to help work this dress on a very tight timescale. In total 200,000 ostrich fronds were used in 18 shades of red to black with a growing number of fronds per row. When complete it was modelled by Erin O’Connor before going to the GREAT Festival of Creativity exhibition in Shanghai. It then travelled round the world before returning to the UK where it was worn by Cheryl for the X Factor final.

On loan from a private owner

Waistcoat with Crewel Embroidery

2013-4

Wool with wool embroidery

Patrick Grant came to visit the RSN in 2013 and was particularly interested in the crewel designs in the collection. Based on this he designed a waistcoat for his company E Tautz and asked degree students to work on it within a limited colour palette. Some motifs were worked as slips and then applied at the end. The writing was stitched directly. This method was used because it enabled a number of students to be involved and some of the panels were large and necessitated one student above the work and one below. The jacket was premiered at Fashion Week: Men’s in 2014. The Degree students have worked with Patrick on a number of occasions since for different projects.

On loan from E Tautz/Patrick Grant

Red Carpet Green Dress

2013

Organic silk naturally dyed embroidered with re-used metal threads, cotton threads and scrunched Ferrero Rocher wrappers

This dress was part of Suzy Ames Cameron’s Red Carpet Green Dress initiative to create more sustainable garments for the red carpet. The dress was designed by student Michael Badger and was realised by Vivienne Westwood’s Studio. The RSN not only developed the interpretation for the ‘lava’ but also taught the designer how to stitch it. The dress was worn by Naomie Harris at the Oscars in 2013.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to show this dress at the Fashion and Textile Musuem, however we are delighted to show it to you in our Virtual Exhibition.

Ecce Cor Meum

2005

Linen and white cotton threads

This piece was made by the RSN Studio for Sir Paul McCartney’s classical album Ecce Cor Meum using overlaid monograms of the initial letters. This piece was wanted for photography so quickly that it was kept on the slate frame. To this day, it remains on the slate frame.

On loan from mpl

1001 Nights (The Dark Self)

2017

Cotton pillowcases and cotton threads

Conceptual artist Susan Aldworth wanted to create an installation and came to the RSN to ask students to stitch onto pillowcases as part of her Dark Self initiative. These were first shown in York and some went on tour to Europe.