Hand and Lock Embroidery

Hand in Hand

The London College of Fashion is famous for its close links with the fashion industry. Polly Kenny charts the historic, creative relationship that exists between the College and Hand & Lock. The Fashion Industry in the West End of London has a long history of producing exclusive hand crafted clothes for women. By the end of the 19th century, London however was in danger of losing trade to Paris owing to a lack of skilled workers. In 1906, three trade schools were established related to local industries in the West End that were to become the London College of Fashion providing skilled workers for the couture garment trade for the first half of the 20th century.

From 1900 through the 1930′s the West End was at the centre of an industry providing luxurious garments for women attending the prestigious social events that comprised the ‘season’, balls, parties court presentations and sporting events. The college held an annual exhibition for prospective employers to visit, with embroidery students being taught hand and machine embroidery, braiding, fringing, metal thread and beadwork (Reynolds, 1997). The college’s collection of original archival material available on the AHDS Visual Arts website provide a fascinating insight into the type of embroidered fashion produced at the time.

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