Sewing a thread between past and present
- Kenny first restored historical textiles and costumes
- She combines traditional techniques, modern materials and daring innovations
- Nature and historical embroidery pieces are a major influence on her work
Kenny Damian started out as a restorer and conservator of historical textiles and costumes, such as banners and vestments. “Through this I encountered a wide variety of embroidery pieces and became fascinated by the craft,” she says. Kenny now creates her own work, as well as collaborating with designers. She uses traditional techniques such as Aari, gold thread embroidery and broderie d’art. "I do not shy away from innovation," she says. “I sometimes work with printed textiles as the basis for hand embroidery, or use special fabrics and contemporary threads that allow new effects and textures.” Historical embroidery pieces remain at the heart of what inspires her creative expression, be it works she restored herself, or those she finds in museums and historical fashion magazines. Nature is her other main source of inspiration.
Interview
- How did you master all the different techniques you apply?
- I studied in Belgium, with its illustrious textile history, at the Royal School of Needlework and the London Embroidery School in the UK, and at the Scuola di Ricamo Alta Moda in Italy. For Aari and Kutch embroidery, I travelled to India, where these skills are still passed down from generation to generation.
- Could your craft be considered in danger in your home country, Belgium?
- Yes, traditional embroidery is an endangered craft here. There are hardly any places where these techniques are still taught or practised professionally. With my work, I try to contribute to the preservation of this rich tradition, even though it takes a lot of time and patience.
- What was an important turning point in your career?
- A commission for Belgian jewellery designer Sébastien Vandekerckhove. I embroidered a design using the Aari technique on silk organza, which I then appliquéd onto a second-hand leather jacket. This work opened up new creative possibilities and showed me how my craft can be applied in a contemporary context.
- What life lesson have you learned thanks to your craft?
- Opportunities cannot be forced, they come your way when the time is right. My craft has taught me to be patient, wait for the right moment, and be open to opportunities when they arise.
Kenny Damian is a master artisan: she began her career in 2010 and she started teaching in 2019
Where
Kenny Damian
