As a London based Embroidery studio, we have enjoyed working on a vast range of projects for film, TV and performance.
Embroidery in film not only creates an impact and looks beautiful, it often sets a scene by indicating a characters wealth, heritage, and even plays a part in specifying an era where necessary. In performance, it’s a way of artistic expression and is often used to make stunning, standout costumes for stage.
Dr. Strange
Our most high profile embroidery project for film to date is the exceptional costumes for Benedict Cumberbatch’s character, Dr. Strange and co star Chiwetel Ejiofor, Baron Modo in the 2016 blockbuster.
These were detailed pieces that made up both garments – some with a unique cross stitch effect created with digital embroidery, and others with traditional vermicelli embroidery. Upon first look you may not notice the detail and craftsmanship on these pieces, however they play a vital part in creating the overall effect for both costumes.
FKA Twigs, Magdalene
A fantastic example of how we can push boundaries through experimental digital embroidery techniques is the work we did for FKA Twigs’ 2019 tour. We had the pleasure of working on five outfit changes for the artist with superstar stylists Ed Kay and Matthew Josephs.
The head scarf and corset in the above photo are just two of the pieces we embroidered for FKA Twigs’ Magdalena Tour.
We often work closely with the design team to make sure that placement and size is accurate, especially for embroideries like this corset piece which made up the entire back panel of the garment.
‘Diana’ a BBC Documentary
Embroidery for film doesn’t always have to be for costumes or grand interiors. At Hawthorne & Heaney, we worked on a series of embroideries for the 2017 BBC documentary, Diana.
These were simple, script text pieces which were used as chapter openings for the on screen tribute. A unique way to separate chapters in television.
We love working on embroidery for film and performance here at Hawthorne & Heaney, it’s a joy to see how they come together in the on the big screen or on stage and we can’t wait to get started on the next!
To enquire about embroidery for your production, get in touch here.