Haute Couture Embroidery: The Golden Koi with Sophie Boylan

Sophie Boylan is a Canadian embroidery designer dedicated to honouring traditional techniques while pushing the boundaries of conventional materials. Her work explores themes of femininity and nature, with sustainability serving as the guiding principle in every project. Boylan’s designs blend craftsmanship with conceptual narratives, reflecting her commitment to creating textiles that are both aesthetically striking and environmentally conscious. A First-Class graduate from The London College of Fashion, specialising in Embroidery, Boylan went on to earn her MA in Textile Design from the prestigious Royal College of Art. Throughout her academic journey, she developed an expansive skill set that encompasses traditional hand embroidery, machine-guided techniques, and advanced digital embroidery machinery. This diverse technical training allows her to bridge the gap between heritage craftsmanship and contemporary design innovation. Boylan’s professional experience has been enriched through immersive internships and freelance work with renowned fashion houses and ateliers, including Hand & Lock, Miss Sohee, Simone Rocha, and Erdem. These opportunities provided her with firsthand exposure to the dynamic world of luxury fashion, deepening her understanding of both haute couture techniques and the creative processes behind collections. For her MA project, Boylan focused on addressing the environmental impact of conventional embroidery materials. She reimagined the traditional plastic sequin—traditionally made from petroleum-based microplastics—by developing a sustainable alternative that retains the visual allure and textural qualities of the original while minimising ecological harm. This project not only highlighted her innovative approach to design but also reinforced her belief that sustainability and beauty can coexist without compromise. As part of The CHANEL & The King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Embroidery Fellowship 2025 cohort, Boylan refined her haute couture hand embroidery skills, further building on the techniques she developed at École Lesage in Paris. Following the fellowship, Boylan graduated from The King’s Foundation and began a Future Materials Fellowship with the Jan van Eyck Academie in the Netherlands, where she is conducting research into the durability of her sustainable sequins and exploring methods to extend their lifespan, while continuing to develop her practice of haute couture embroidery.