A Brief History of Embroidered Clothing

Embroidered clothing has, for many centuries, been a very popular way to decorate clothing and make it stand out from the others. However the practice has a very long and rich history, stretching across many years and many cultures. The sheer extent of this history may not come as a surprise to some, however it is fascinating to look into nevertheless.

While we won’t go into too much detail regarding embroidered clothing here, it should help give an insight into how the practice came to be, spread and reached the point it has today.

Early Beginnings

Evidence for embroidered clothes can be found first during the Warring States period of China, back in the 5^th-3^rd centuries BC. The practice was initially developed as a means of decorating, repairing and reinforcing clothing, and gradually led to the development of new sewing techniques that allowed the artistic potential of embroidery to flourish. It was soon used to create highly elaborate designs on the tunics and robes of prominent officials and merchants. The practice of embroidery then gradually spread westward into India, Persia and then to the Roman Empires.

We later see evidence of further embroidered clothing during the Migration period of the 4^th to 6^th centuries as the Roman Empire in the west collapsed and was succeeded by several “barbarian” successor kingdoms. Clothing at this time is found to have employed embroidery as a means of reinforcing the borders of clothes in order to prevent from becoming damaged and fraying, and was frequently used as a decorative addition as well. Embroidery practices in Europe were already fairly advanced at this time, with evidence of highly sophisticated methods of stitching and fairly rich materials being used.

Medieval Styles

Usually embroidered clothing was used as a means of further decorating clothing and making them stand out against their peers. As chivalry heraldry became more common, it was quickly fashionable for young lords and their retainers to wear their family crests and arms embroidered onto their clothing and tunics, a similar practice being found in feudal Japan on the other side of the world. Patterns at this time could be very rich indeed, frequently incorporating geometric and natural figures, such as branching vines and blooming flowers.

The industry was very much contained within the home, with housewives of all social ranks managing their own sewing and embroidery. However specialised textile workshops did exist, and the first tailors quickly began to appear by the end of the 14^th century.

Many textiles centers sprung up throughout Europe at this time, however England in particular was always a major exporter of clothed goods, including embroidered clothes. Called Anglorum Opus, or English work, the products were famous throughout Europe and highly sought after. Indeed, wool and textile goods continued to be the main English export until the start of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British economy.

Industrialised Embroidering

With the Industrial Revolution came mechanised looming machines, and devices that stitch together clothing several hundred times a day. Mass produced clothing was, initially, fairly bare-bones and crude, but eventually came to incorporate more elaborate and decorative designs. While individually tailored and embroidering still existed, they were very much a commodity of the well-off. By the end of the century, mass-produced embroidered clothes were quickly flooding the market, and as the 20^th century progressed new techniques and technologies quickly became available.

Nowadays computers manage the design and production of embroidered clothing, which opens up even further avenues for design and creativity. It’s popular nowadays for embroidered clothing to include logos and company seals into their designs as well.