Embroidery Workshop: Paisley

Elevate your skills at this workshop inspired by the Museum’s collection and led by experts from Hand & Lock, London’s premier embroidery house.

With the flourishing of the East India Company and the growing deployment of British soldiers across the globe, a number of previously unseen designs and fashions came flooding back to Britain. 

One notable example is the design we refer to as paisley, after the Scottish town where it was reproduced. Originating in Persia (now Iran), this soon became a favourite gift for soldiers to collect or send home to their loved ones.

In this special one-day workshop, a curator from the National Army Museum will show you some beautiful examples of the paisley style, explaining their historic significance. A representative from Hand & Lock will then discuss the techniques used in the embroidery.

After this introduction, you'll create your own paisley design inspired by the items you've seen.

About Hand & Lock

Hand & Lock is London’s premier embroidery house, providing embellishment services to the Royal Family, top European design houses, the military, Savile Row and members of the public. Founded in 1767, they have over 250 years’ experience embellishing, embroidering and monogramming.