‘Where The Apron Once Was’
Hand & Lock The Prize
In 2025 I entered the 25th Hand & Lock Prize with my entry ‘Where The Apron Once Was.’ Inspired by an 18th-century embroidered apron fragment from the Roger Warner Textile Collection housed at Temple Newsam in Leeds, the piece was rooted in both original research and personal connection, drawing on my long-standing relationship with the estate. I set out to reimagine a fragment of domestic textile history as a fully realised theatrical garment, using digital embroidery as a way to explore heritage, craftsmanship, and design.
My research process began with closely studying the original apron fragment before digitising and sampling each motif. I tested colour and placement to retain the character of the embroidery while expanding it into a full garment. Drawing on my background in costume, I approached digital embroidery not only as surface decoration, but as an integral part of construction. Motifs were mapped across pattern pieces and seam lines, requiring precise planning to ensure continuity once assembled. The final design was inspired by the robe à la française and robe à l’anglaise, silhouettes contemporary to the original textile.
The prize giving was held at Gallery Rosenfeld London in November 2025 and as well as being an open fashion finalist I was awarded two awards. The first was the Wilcom award for digital embroidery: fashion category for ‘outstanding incorporation of digital machine embroidery’ and the second was the Joel & Sons associate award for ‘best use of fabric and materiality whilst incorporating excellence.’ Being recognised by these prestigious organisations including Hand & Lock, marked a significant milestone in my practice, celebrating both the technical complexity of the work and its engagement with historical textiles.
