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One-off embroideries inspired by world travel

Emilie Idea started as jewellery back when I finished a Jewellery Design BaHons in 2009. In 2016 I began embroidery using beautiful Japanese Sashiko patterns as gifts for Christmas And E工 was born. The E stands for Emilie, 工 (gōng）is a Chinese character used to make up numerous words to do with work, labour, projects and skill, but also looks like a capital ‘i’. Every genuine E工 item has the embroidered logo in the design, often quite subtly.

Alongside Japanese patterns you’ll see elements of China since I have spent a lot of time there and learned the language and then the Cornish coast, where I grew up, gives inspiration of the sea.

Embroidery to me is meditative, calming, tactile and incredibly satisfying. I find I have the same inspiration as I did in my jewellery days but I’m able to express ideas much better and in a much broader sense.

My aim since I began, has been to work on practical everyday items that can be carried or worn.

I learned how to use indigo at home and took a workshop in Beijing in 蜡染- a traditional batik resist on cotton and then dyed in indigo. There are more skills and eco dyeing techniques I’d also love to learn and share. I hope you’ll see some of them here

Find Emilie Idea on social media

• Instagram