Ruby Quinn- BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice
Gilded Opulence
For my final project, Gilded Opulence, I have explored my long‑standing passion for period and vintage fashions through a collection of five period costume illustrations each paired with opulent silk samples representing fragments of the garment.
My research stemmed from my favourite visual period films such as Emma (2020) and Marie Antoinette (2006), from which I produced observational paintings that informed my embroidery motifs, colour palette and fabric choices. Using the multihead embroidery machine enabled me to translate my hand‑painted motifs into digital embroideries that I then enhanced with hand-stitch and beading. I also explored ruffling, pleating, smocking and rosette‑making to strengthen the historical authenticity of my samples.
Further study of regency and rococo dress, alongside couture influenced by historical silhouettes, helped me understand how designers reinterpret the past. I was particularly inspired by the work of Milena Canonero, Alexandra Byrne and Catherine Avison, whose approaches to costume and embroidery clarified how textiles can function as narrative tools within film and theatre.
Working with dupion silks, satins and synthetic silks in a pastel‑meets‑vibrant palette, I used both physical sampling and visualisation to imagine the full costumes.
This project has deepened my understanding of historical dress, strengthened my digital and hand‑embroidery skills, and helped shape my identity as an embroiderer with a strong period‑fashion influence.
