Hand embroidery on clothing is a big draw for us. We love the colors and textures that artists create using clothing as their canvas. You can see so many wonderful examples on Pinterest and Etsy. We are fans of Johnny Was and their beautiful clothing line full of incredibly detailed embroidery on jackets, dresses, shirts and more.
Embroidery as a decorative art goes back to 5th-3rd centuries BC in China. Early examples in Sweden are from 300 - 700 AD. Wikipedia informs us that "elaborately embroidered clothing, religious objects, and household items often were seen as a mark of wealth and status, as in the case of Opus Anglicanum, a technique used by professional workshops and guilds in medieval England. In 18th-century England and its colonies, samplers employing fine silks were produced by the daughters of wealthy families. Embroidery was a skill marking a girl's path into womanhood as well as conveying rank and social standing."
Embroidery is also a folk art, using materials that were accessible to non-professionals. Examples include Hardanger from Norway, Merezhka from Ukraine, Mountmellick embroidery from Ireland, Nakshi kantha from Bangladesh and West Bengal, and Brazilian embroidery. Many techniques had a practical use such as Sashiko from Japan, which was used as a way to reinforce clothing.
Embroidery on clothing can be found through the African continent. There is a wonderful site that features contemporary embroidery for sale from South Africa called Tambani.
Check out our Pinterest board for inspiration: https://www.pinterest.com/treschicstitche/embroide...
We are pleased to present new additions to the GG Embroidery Collection. These kits are quick projects for embroidering on children's clothes and accessories. Black Girl Magic and Black Boy Joy are patterns created by Ben Foster exclusively for Tres Chic Stitchery.
Stand by for more examples of embroidered clothing. We are on the look-out for more great examples!