About the Prize

The Prize
For the past 10 years, this prestigious international prize has attracted students of embroidery, design, arts, surface textiles, costume, fibres, interiors, fashion and textiles throughout the world. The Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery will also be running an open category for embroiderers from all backgrounds.

The aim of this prize is to promote the use of hand embroidered surface embellishment within fashion, costume and soft furnishing. All in the hope that contemporary design and other fresh approaches will be inspired to embrace hand embroidery, to acknowledge and value its quality and expertise.

The Brief
The Brief encourages a diverse range of work.
It seeks original and creative ideas, innovative design and use of materials.

Points of the Brief
Entrants are required to:
1. Base all work entered on the following brief, entitled ‘Bunty Old Drawers’
2. Present embroidered samples of hand embroidery for clothing, accessories, costume or soft furnishing
3. Use HAND EMBROIDERY. Machine embroidery can be used, but must be hand embellished
4. Demonstrate how the embroidery can be applied / used, by providing one or more of the following – finished items / garments / mock-ups /illustrations / computer graphics
5. Provide supporting research and sketch/idea books/sheets, with notes that explain the thinking and ideas behind the concept
6. Show the design development from initial concept through to realised design
7. Ensure that the finished product is both practical and commercially viable
8. Provide at least 1 finished piece

Suggested Reading
1. The Complete Encyclopaedia of Needlework by Therese De Dillmont: ASIN: B000OHBM0G
2. Art of the Embroiderer by Charles Germain De Saint-Aubin: ISBN-10: 0875871100
3. Book of Finalists (Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2009). Available from http://www.handembroideryshop.co.uk/acatalog/book.html