Final year project
Nature reclaiming spaces [Read more]
Digitally embroidered heritage kimono
Organic cotton flannel kimono, hand-dyed in an indigo vat and digitally embroidered with viscose threads. Designed to be passed down through generations.
Crepe paper on naturally dyed cotton
Organic cotton muslin, naturally dyed with onion skins. Embroidered with crepe paper to showcase how non-woven cellulose materials can be used within textiles.
Crepe paper kimono
A kimono made out of crepe paper. Showcasing how non-woven cellulose materials can be used to create ultra-fast fashion garments, intended for disposal after one use.
Gridded beading sample
Heavily beaded sample, exploring the pixelated imagery within an embroidered context. 100 hours of embroidery time.
Crepe paper embroidery
Showcasing how embroidery can incorporate paper for decorative purposes.
Tatting & hand embroidery
This sample employed traditional shuttle tatting and hand embroidery. The fabric was hand-dyed in an indigo vat, then painted with bleach to create the patterned background.
Naturally dyed & digitally embroidered sample
This sample was naturally dyed with onion skins, digitally embroidered and then hand beaded & couched. The wire adds a 3D quality to the piece, allowing the piece to be shaped to the wearer's body.
Digital & hand embroidered cotton
Digital and hand embroidery with wire couched into the sample. The design was taken from Jessica's mixed media paintings.
Jessica Strain
Jessica is a multi-media textile graduate who focuses on combining heritage textile techniques with contemporary machine led processes.
Jessica’s graduate collection Nature Reclaiming Spaces, focuses on fusing the best of what modern machinery has to offer with specialist hand led embroidery and lacemaking techniques. Passion for manual processes can be seen throughout Jessica’s work; double exposure film photography, shuttle tatting and limerick lace were driving processes for this project.
Sustainability is at the heart of Jessica’s design process; she experimented with natural dyeing at home and spent hundreds of hours embroidering her pieces by hand. This intensive and considered approach to design is something she will take forward in her career. She aspires to continue creating work in a studio environment, honing her embroidery skills through future projects.
Dissertation
Investigating traditional embroidery industries in a digital world
Final year project
Nature reclaiming spaces
Awards
Graduate collection sponsored by Hawthorne & Heaney, digital embroidery provided for graduate collection.
Graduate collection sponsored by Green Fibres, fabric supplied for graduate collection.
'20 Diploma in Professional Studies
Experience
Freelance digital embroiderer, Hawthorne & Heaney. Working events for Dior & Ugg alongside my final year studies.
Placements
March 2019 - June 2019
Digital print designer, Fusion CPH
November 2018 - February 2019
Embroidery assistant, Hawthorne & Heaney
June 2018 - September 2018
Set decor assistant, Bearded Kitten