Hand & Lock Announce Winners of the 2024 Prize for Embroidery
Renowned embroidery house Hand & Lock is delighted to reveal the winners of the 2024 Prize for Embroidery. The prestigious competition culminated in a two-day celebration at the Rosenfeld Gallery in Central London, featuring a private view, judging sessions, a prize-giving ceremony, and a pop-up exhibition.
Image courtesy of Fiona Cowell Winner Chairmans Choice Award.
Image above courtesy of Athalia Lewartowski.
The event, held on Thursday 13 November, brought together judges, mentors, finalists, and embroidery enthusiasts to explore the stunning entries and celebrate the winners of this year’s competition.
A Celebration of Transformation and Creativity
This year’s competition theme, Palimpsest, challenged entrants from across the globe to explore the interplay of past and present. Participants were invited to craft intricate embroidered works that reflect transformation, resilience, and renewal—whether personal, cultural, or conceptual. The result was an inspiring collection of 33 pieces, each telling a unique story.
Judging the works were some of the industry’s leading figures, including Esme Young of The Great British Sewing Bee, milliner Philip Treacy, contemporary artist Cornelia Parker OBE, and The Times Fashion Director Anna Murphy. Together, they selected winners across four categories: Fashion and Textile Art for both student and non-student entries.
Image courtesy of Serina Lee.
2024 Prize for Embroidery Winners - Student Fashion Category
1st Place: Serina Lee (UK) – Instituto Marangoni London
2nd Place: Athalia Lewartowski (Israel) – Shenkar College
3rd Place: Pearl Lu (USA) – Parsons School of Design
Student Textile Art Category
1st Place: Imogen Campbell (UK) – Royal School of Needlework
2nd Place: Lucy Bishop (UK) – Royal College of Art
3rd Place: Rhona Fraser Millar (UK) – Glasgow School of Art
Open Fashion Category
1st Place: Annette Ratti (UK)
2nd Place: Lucia Duffin (UK)
3rd Place: Lauren Paul (UK)
Open Textile Art Category
1st Place: Julie Heaton (UK)
2nd Place: Iskren Lozanov (Bulgaria)
3rd Place: Blair Martin Cahill (USA)
Image courtesy of Blair Martin Cahill
Hand & Lock’s 2024 Prize for Embroidery highlights the enduring artistry of embroidery and its ability to convey complex narratives. The event offered a platform for emerging and established talents alike, celebrating innovation while honouring tradition.
As this year’s competition closes, Hand & Lock looks forward to continuing its mission to champion embroidery as both an art form and a craft. For updates on next year’s theme and entry details, keep an eye on the official Hand & Lock website.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Lead image: Julie Heaton
Discover more about Hand & Lock:
www.handembroidery.com
@handandlocklondon