Thread of Time
Founded in 1872 by Lady Victoria Welby, the RSN Embroidery Studio, known as the Royal School of Needlework, began in a small workshop above a bonnet shop in London, guided by Princess Helena, its first president. Its aim was to revive the art of embroidery while offering women skilled employment. By 1903, thanks to royal fundraising, the School settled into a new home near the V&A Museum. At its peak, what had started with 20 embroiderers soon blossomed into an atelier where nearly 150 artisans worked.
Today, RSN Embroidery Studio carries this heritage forward, combining conservation work, restoration and modern bespoke creation. Trained through the same rigorous programmes, the artisans’ work unfolds as a dialogue with time. They blend historic techniques, such as the medieval method Opus Anglicanum, with contemporary commissions, such as the Robe of Estate made for Her Majesty the Queen in 2023. In this way, embroidery stands as both heritage and living art.
Where
RSN Embroidery Studio
