Fit for royalty
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Fit for royalty: Student works on dress designed for the King’s Coronation
Thursday, 15 June, 2023Third year Bath Spa University BA (Hons) Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors course (TDFI) degree student, Eloise Mills, has worked on the design of a royal dress for the Duchess of Edinburgh while on placement at Jenny King’s studio in Brighton.
Eloise secured a placement at designer Jenny King’s studio - which specialises in contemporary high-end Irish embroidery - after being referred by Lecturer in MA Design (Textiles pathway) and joint-Course Leader of Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors, Anna Gravelle.
Jenny King’s work resonated with Eloise as they share many of the same specialisms, specifically in Irish embroidery.
During her time at the studio, Eloise worked alongside Jenny to assist in the creation of tailored designs for celebrity clients, including the embroidered section on the Duchess of Edinburgh’s dress for the coronation of King Charles III.
Eloise said:
“It was a real honour to be involved in the design of the Duchess of Edinburgh’s dress for HM King Charles III's coronation. It was a momentous occasion, an experience I’ll cherish, and a dress I’ll never forget.”
The dress, which was commissioned for Duchess Sophie to wear, was embroidered in the distinctive style of the designer with motifs sourced from British botanicals. The hand-drawn Irish embroidery was expertly stitched into the chest, shoulders and train. Speaking about her experience working with Jenny King’s clients, Eloise said:
“Jenny is approached by a variety of clients, providing briefs on what they would like her to design. This includes film, TV, theatre, performance wear, art, celebrities and royalty. While I was there I had the honour of being involved in the design of the Duchess of Edinburgh’s dress for the King's Coronation.”
The work placement opportunity enabled Eloise to develop her skills in Irish embroidery and the knowledge gained at University. It also encouraged her to nurture her creative flair and develop a sense of what it is like to work in the textile industry.
Having gained a new set of skills, Eloise then applied these to her own work, creating a collection of Irish embroidered, hand-embellished bridal veils that reflect the significance and value of her time with Jenny King. Alongside Irish embroidery, features such as hand embroidery and hand embellishments using reflective materials feature heavily in Eloise’s work.
Rachael Howard, Senior Lecturer in Textile Design and Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors joint-Course Leader said:
“Eloise's time with Jenny King Studio has been such a positive experience for her in developing her embroidery techniques and working as part of a team in the design studio. Eloise has contributed her embroidery skills to garments commissioned for some very exciting clientele including pop stars and royalty! Eloise's final collection highlights her machine embroidery skills beautifully. She has created a collection of beautiful filigree stitched delicacies.”
Eloise's collection of designs are featured in the Bath Spa University Undergraduate Art and Design Degree Show until 17 June. This event showcases the extraordinary achievements of graduating students of Bath Spa University in art and design courses from 2023.