The Royal School of Needlework and Oakwell Couture

Embracing the Haute Couture tradition of 'les petite mains' (which translates as “small hands”) the Royal School of Needlework, in a collaboration with British Couture designer, Nicholas Oakwell, have created possibly their most ambitious project yet. Over six weeks, 18 different shades of hand-dyed ostrich feathers, sourced from British farms, were meticulously sewn by over 70 RSN students, graduates, staff, volunteers and fashion students onto silk organza for this show-stopping piece for the GREAT Britain Campaign. 25 panels and 200,000 ostrich feathers later, the result is stunning and celebrates a brilliant example of British Craft. Read more about the innovative use of ostrich feathers in clothing in Issue 62: Thread www.selvedge.org/shop/62-thread