I am an absolute addict when it comes to fabrics, braiding and embroidery. I adore wading through heaps of detailed textiles, hunting for that perfect print that speaks to me and the Lulu Belle brand. I have been known to spend an entire day in a market, searching for that exact emerald floral print needed for contrast and detail on a dress I’ve designed –and driving the rest of my team crazy with this quest!

And when it comes to braids and embroidery, it’s very rare for me to simply walk past a   store selling these lovely items without a last-minute grab of a basketful of treasure for myself. It really feels like treasure, a beautiful bounty of braids and embroidery that is as rich and detailed as a chest full of jewels.

But, for me, these cross-stitch cords of colour, these sublime tapestries and wonders of needlework all speak to the talent and skill of the many people I have met who make this their life’s work. They will sit silently with a piece of fabric stretched over a table, embroidering and beading with a precision and excellence that continues to astound and inspire me! It’s a labour of love – and an ode to loveliness. It’s also a tribute to our creativity – from bits of thread and bead and fabric, we can summon up marvelous creations that live on and give pleasure to those who wear these treasures.

And so, whenever I come back with a fresh haul of treasure, deck out the Lulu Belle shopfront or add images to our online store, I am reminded of this gift of creativity and beauty that’s behind the Lulu Belle brand.