A Career in Embroidery with Harriet Frances Stiles

Since graduating from the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) in 2014, Harriet's career has taken her from establishing her own embroidery business in London and collaborating with leading fashion houses, to working internationally in craft, design and cultural heritage.

In this talk, Harriet will share her professional journey, reflecting on how her training at the RSN provided the foundation for a varied career spanning embroidery, fashion, and international craft development. Harriet will talk about setting up and running her own business, working with luxury brands and designers, and how her experience as an embroiderer has shaped the way she approaches creative collaborations. Harriet will offer her unique perspective on she has brought traditional techniques and craftsmanship into contemporary design and luxury markets, sharing insights into working with designers and fashion houses.

Harriet will discuss how her career has evolved into a broader role in the international craft sector. As Creative Director and General Manager for Turquoise Mountain in Saudi Arabia, she now has a key operational role, including work across design, product development and production, developing opportunities for traditional crafts in international markets through business development. She will share her experience of managing the journey of a product from concept to customer, including working with makers, sourcing materials, planning production, managing supply chains and maintaining quality and ensuring commercial viability. She will consider how these different elements need to work together to create successful, sustainable businesses that support artisans and allow traditional skills to flourish.

Through personal stories, projects and experiences in the UK and Middle East, Harriet will reflect on the opportunities, challenges and unexpected directions her career has taken. She hopes to demonstrate how a specialist craft education can provide the starting point for a much broader career, and encourage others to explore the many possibilities that can grow from their own creative practice and to see their education as a door into wider possibilities.