Clara Francis’ cherished table runner, embroidered with family signatures and carried from Frankfurt by her Holocaust-surviving grandmother, exemplifies the deep, historical significance of embroidery. Embroidery’s rich tradition of conveying private messages has persisted through the ages, from suffragette slogans to artworks like Tracey Emin’s tent masterpiece. Today, a resurgence in personalized embroidery counteracts the homogeny of mass fashion; brands like With Nothing Underneath and O Pioneers offer customizations, enhancing emotional connection to garments. As gifts, intricate embroideries, such as secret messages, continuously affirm love and personal memories, with the global market anticipated to double to $16.1bn in ten years.
