Elsa Searle Vincent

Sketching Through Stitch

Here the garment serves as a canvas for embroidery. Embracing individuality and eccentricity, the designer derives form, materials and technique from her drawings of people with unique characteristics who stand out from the crowd. Her sketches accentuate certain features to a surreal level, using mark-making to stimulate unique embroidery designs. A range of materials of varying density is chosen to convey line and depict the essence of each drawn portrait.

Elsa Searle Vincent employs hand-embroidery techniques that are manipulated using contemporary and unconventional materials like tambour chain stitch and goldwork couching that both have very individual outcomes. Industrial fabrics are used as a base for the designs. The collection consists of three dresses that serve as a canvas for the embroidered portrait dresses.

elsa.vincent@hotmail.co.uk