Discover the embroidery profession

Behind the scenes of major couture houses, craftsmanship is a precious treasure, carried by expert hands and unique career paths. Today, we take you to meet S., head of the embroidery division at a prestigious Parisian atelier. With passion and determination, she has carved her way into the demanding world of fashion, making embroidery more than just a profession—a true calling. She shares her journey, inspirations, and daily life within this world of excellence.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about who you are and what your job entails?

My name is S., in my forties but still feeling like I’m 20. Laughs. A happy mom to a mischievous but adorable eight-year-old boy. My family and I moved to France 42 years ago (time flies!). I completed my entire schooling here. I have a degree in Applied Foreign Languages (English/Italian) and initially intended to become a translator or interpreter—professions far from what I do today!

Currently, I work as an embroiderer alongside another colleague in the embroidery division of a major Parisian couture house. I also oversee a team of embroiderers, mostly temporary workers who come in as needed, particularly during collection periods.

Can you tell us about your career path and how you came to embroidery? Was it a childhood dream or something you discovered later?

Thank you for this question—I have so much to say!

Embroidery wasn’t a childhood dream but rather a path I discovered later. Here’s my journey—hold on tight!

Actually, it was my father’s passing that led me to reflect on the meaning of life. I realized that happiness and fulfillment are essential. My motto? YOLO (You Only Live Once)—it sums up everything.

Life can be short, and we must live it to the fullest, pursuing a career that suits us, that we love, and in which we can thrive. Otherwise, we fall into routine or boredom. That’s how I decided to enter the fashion industry.

With a mother who was a seamstress at the time and a sister who also became one, I had the sewing machine, materials, basic sewing skills, and a passion for drawing at home. I thought: why not become a fashion designer?

So, I trained in Fashion Design/Pattern Making with the goal of becoming a fashion designer. But during some amateur fashion shows with friends, I discovered my love for entirely handmade designs, in true haute couture style. It was a revelation.

After completing my fashion training and obtaining my diploma, I entered the industry as a temporary worker in entry-level positions, handling garment finishing by hand. I still remember my very first mission as a finisher in a luxury ready-to-wear house. The workshop atmosphere amazed me!

Later, I had the opportunity to work at a haute couture house, and I was even more impressed—intimidated, even—by the talented seamstresses, each working on their own haute couture design from start to finish!

Embroidery came into my life through a job offer for a seamstress/alterationist position at a well-known Lebanese couture house, recommended by my temp agency at the time. The designer was famous as a lucky charm for actresses. I loved and admired his beautifully embroidered evening and cocktail dresses.

One day, a visiting embroiderer came to reinforce the team, working on the hem of an embroidered dress. She pulled out a Lunéville crochet hook, an embroidery tool I had never seen before, which allows for fast beading and sequin embroidery.

After leaving that house, since I was already doing some needle embroidery at home, I decided to train in Lunéville crochet embroidery, perfecting my skills through evening classes. My teacher encouraged me to take the CAP in hand embroidery, which I did as an independent candidate.

Going back to studying and revising was quite an experience—I had left school in 1998! Funny enough, during my evening classes, I was working for another famous house where I met about fifteen embroiderers. Some of them, to my surprise, showed up at the CAP exam too—a total coincidence!

Afterward, I had the opportunity to work as an embroiderer for prestigious houses like Givenchy, Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, and others.

How long have you been practicing your craft?

I have been in this beautiful profession for 14 years now. Counting my years as a hand seamstress, that makes a total of 18 years in the fashion industry. And my passion and drive remain intact.

How does the atelier operate on a daily basis?

The embroidery division collaborates with the embroidery studio, which designs and develops embroideries, as well as with all the departments that need embroidered pieces retouched, repaired, restored, or finalized.

I work closely with the Flou, Tailoring, Sportswear, Leather, Jersey, and Shirt ateliers, as well as Accessories. I also coordinate with key figures like stylists, various atelier managers, pattern makers, sewing machinists, developers, and the VIC production team (for client orders).

Sometimes, the Press and Showroom departments send us pieces for repair.

Why did you choose embroidery? Did you hesitate or explore other professions?

Embroidery was a career shift within fashion. After my experience as a hand seamstress, I chose embroidery because I was already practicing it at home. It is a craft that suits me perfectly—I love working with my hands.

This profession is rewarding and fascinating, requiring technical expertise, dexterity, precision, skill, and immense patience! An embroidered piece can take hundreds, even thousands of hours to complete, using millions—sometimes billions—of materials!

Seeing a creation take shape, becoming beautiful and alive, is magical. Some colleagues in the atelier even call us “Magicians”!

Personally, when I embroider, I enter a meditative state. I get lost in my work and forget the passage of time.

Before entering the fashion industry and then embroidery, I considered becoming an architect or photographer. But fashion ultimately won—I already had all the background at home, as I mentioned earlier.

What training did you complete?

As I mentioned, I took evening classes in needle and Lunéville crochet embroidery for advanced skills. Before that, I took introductory workshops with a teacher who taught me the basics of Lunéville crochet, the most commonly used stitches, and how to set up an embroidery frame.

It was after these evening classes that I took and passed my CAP in hand embroidery while already working as an embroiderer.

Most of my embroidery expertise has been gained through hands-on experience. Nothing beats real-world practice. I was given opportunities despite my limited experience, and my previous work with my hands certainly helped in this career transition.

Do you often work on special orders or unique pieces?

Yes, we sometimes work on special orders, such as those for VIP clients (Very Important Clients) or celebrities. Some VIPs have the privilege of receiving unique pieces for red carpet events, film promotions, ceremonies, and dinners.

How do you feel when you see a finished piece ready to be worn?

The entire team feels satisfaction and pride when a piece is completed, especially when we see it on the runway or on a celebrity in the media. We always get excited and say, "Oh! I worked on that! My DNA is in that piece!"

When an embroidered piece is ordered multiple times by different clients, it means it’s well-loved and in demand.

Through her rich and inspiring journey, S. reminds us how passion and perseverance can open doors to the métiers d’art. Her testimony highlights the exceptional craftsmanship that brings haute couture pieces to life.

At Paula, we are committed to showcasing these unique career paths and introducing you to the talents shaping today’s and tomorrow’s fashion. Stay tuned—more exclusive interviews are coming soon!