Sophie Boylan’s meticulous hand embroidery is designed to have minimal environmental impact. Her innovative approach involves experimenting with bioplastic alternatives to sequins and other embellishments commonly found in contemporary textiles. With her QEST Emerging Maker Grant, Sophie will deepen her knowledge of haute couture embroidery techniques through a dedicated course at École Lesage in Paris. Following this she aims to gain additional training and experience in the UK, France, and India to build a truly global understanding of traditional handwork.
Since graduating from the Royal College of Art, Sophie has been selected for fellowships with Chanel and The King’s Foundation, and the Future Materials Fellowship at the Jan Van Eyck Academy. In the near future, she would like to be able to take on more ambitious creative projects with her own studio space in the southwest, as well as sharing her skills and passion for embroidery with others through teaching. She wants to support a richer appreciation of embroidery as an art form, to empower others through hands-on learning, and to strengthen the future of sustainable and culturally informed textile craftsmanship.
