It's not just the enthusiasts who have been reviving embroidery in recent years. Modern fashion brands have been using it to give their products a unique and artistic look, too.
Stella McCartney, for example, stitched performance materials such as Aertex with swirling squiggle motifs in orange, blue, and yellow. Jumpers and jackets at Christopher Kane came with scrawls of free-hand thread doodles.
In his Americana-themed collection, Marc Jacobs embroidered jumpsuits with schoolbook sketches of broken hearts and roses. Gucci’s fondant-pink show invite arrived in a gossamer pouch stitched with delicate flowers – paving the way for models dressed in cardigans with trompe l’oeil bows and flowers.
London-based Australian designer Louise Markey, aka LF Markey, is known for her no-nonsense sporty jersey and denim separates but disclosed that her embroidered Skylar T-shirt dress was one of her bestsellers. "It's been popular with people going to weddings," she said. "I think they are looking for something easy to wear that looks special."
The Swedish sneaker brand Eytys has produced shoes embroidered in designs inspired by Afghan war rugs – a tradition of weaving the apparatus of conflict into traditional carpeting. Proceeds were donated to UNHCR and Refugees Welcome.
Many designers once hailed as masters of print are exploring their knack for creating exuberant surface embellishments.
"Along with the growth of social media and the presence of the internet, people find themselves increasingly stressed," artistic couple and embroidery lovers Charles and Elin wrote in their blog post. "No wonder ... We're constantly connected and 'available.'"
"Thus, embroidery has gained significant attention partly due to the growing awareness of mental health."
"Modern hand embroidery is an incredibly relaxing and meditative art form. Stitch by stitch, you’re able to disconnect and concentrate on the growing embroidery piece in your hands," Charles and Elin explained.
They think that creating things with our hands is human nature. "Whether it was to create tools for hunting or clothes to wear. To be a good craftsman and 'handyman' had huge benefits for your survival."
"As a result, our bodies have developed award systems through the release of happiness hormones whenever we perform acts that are beneficial for survival. It may sound far-fetched, but our bodies and brains haven’t had time to adapt to our modern industrial and technological societies. Thus, they’re still reacting to stimuli related to survival mechanisms," the couple said.
The right time to try out the craft is whenever you feel like it. For our earlier piece on the subreddit r/Embroidery, whose members have also created an impressive collection of works, Ania Jakubisiak, who has been stitching stuff since she was a child, told Bored Panda she has learned everything through trial and error and Pinterest. "Embroidery is my way to pay tribute to people I love, characters I admire, and relax during long studying hours," Ania said.
"It's not difficult to start. Invest in a good quality wooden hoop and try out many techniques," she suggested. "You will find the style that fits your hand and aesthetic."
