Nadya Pak

Embroiderer | Moscow, Russia

Hooked on embroidery

Nadya's varied work includes necklaces, wedding dresses and panel pictures
She is inspired by nature, particularly flowers
It may take her more than two months to create an embroidered item

Drawing has been Nadya Pak’s passion since very a early age. By the time she entered the Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, from where she graduated as a fashion designer, she had tried a number of arts and crafts, from sculpture to embroidery. "I settled on embroidery because I loved the meticulous work, the way that seemingly endless stitches create a whole piece," she recalls. Nadya's background in drawing is helpful, since she creates the patterns for her embroidery works herself. Neither is her fashion degree collecting dust on a shelf; Nadya is becoming increasingly involved in fashion and now makes corsets, evening gowns, wedding dresses and other garments.

Interview

Dmitry Ternovoy ©Michelangelo Foundation

Do you remember your first work?: I started out making brooches, and the one that really helped me get noticed was a multicoloured colibri brooch, which has since become my talisman. I sewed it on a blouse, and it became my lucky garment.
What do you love most about hook embroidery?: It makes me feel like a creator, and it is magical. Every piece is a wonderful journey, from the moment that you conceive it in your head through to the colours you choose and the many stitches you make to get to the end result, when you hold a complete work in your hands – it tells a story.
Do you train apprentices?: Initially, I didn't look for students, but I started getting requests through my Instagram, and so I created masterclasses to respond to them. I see a growing interest in crafts and applied arts; more and more people appreciate the individual touch and are keen to learn crafts.
Which is your most important piece?: A flower-shaped necklace that won first prize in the jewellery category of the prestigious Birds Competition in 2019, supported by Swarovski. The task was to reflect your own personality in a piece of jewellery, and I turned the necklace into a tribute to my family, fashion and the arts.

Nadya Pak is an : she began her career in