Broderie Anglaise: Working the whitework needlework
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:08
Refreshingly white, perpetually angelic and occasionally Bohemian, broderie anglaise reemerges on the SS15 runway like a breath of fresh air.
Fashion can’t be more ephemeral than it already is. This year, runways were a blast to the past with key players from the 70’s making a comeback, namely the unforgettable fringe and iconic flared pants. But reaching back beyond the colourful retro years is the delicate 16th century broderie anglaise.
Despite having a French name, which translates to ‘English embroidery’, broderie anglaise is neither French nor English; it’s believed to have originated what is now known to be Czechoslovakia, before the Victorians eventually popularized it.
Not to be confused with lace and crochet, broderie anglaise features an eyelet-ridden design with intricate cutwork usually reinforced with embroidery and needle lace. It has certainly transcended all expectations, going from our grandmother’s doilies and tablecloths to thousand-dollar dresses on the runways of Oscar de la Renta , Chloe and Valentino. The three prestigious designers embraced the elegance and femininity of broderie anglaise, while Kenzo went against the grain and showed the embroidery is capable of a masculine look too.
Albeit being whitework needlework (stitching white fabric onto another white fabric) by tradition, it has reemerged in different colours and inspired similar items, like Sophie Theallet‘s refined black cotton top and Alaïa‘s awe-inspiring laser-cut white sandals respectively.
Flip through or gallery to discover what other broderie anglaise fashion pieces you can set your eyes on and see what the hype is all about!
Natasha Gan
