Thongsinh Keokotavong, from Auckland, New Zealand studying her Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at the Massey University Wellington College, has won second prize in the prestigious international embroidery competition, the ‘Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2005’.

Alastair Macleod, Chairman of Hand & Lock and Michael Spender, Director of the Embroiderers' Guild presents Tilly (Thongsinh) Keokotavong from New Zealand's Massey University Wellington College with her Silver Award, £250, and Embroidery magazine subscription prizes for coming joint second runner up in the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2005 competition.

She has been flown in to London for the week as a guest of Hand & Lock to collect her prizes, visit the Hand & Lock workrooms, and to see London.

The champagne reception and prize giving, held at the Covent Garden Theatre Museum in the heart of London, saw Michael Spender, Director of the Embroiderers’ Guild, present Tilly with her prize of £250, a hand embroidered commemorative Silver Award, made by Hand & Lock craftsmen, and an Embroiderers Guild ‘Embroidery’ magazine subscription.

The judging by representatives of the competition’s sponsors, and Hand & Lock designers and directors, was very demanding. Each year the standard gets higher. Tilly’s work was commended for its development of layers that created whole fabrics, all very carefully thought through. There was great consistency in her work that showed beautiful and subtle use of colour and with fine detail.

The £2000 first prize, went to Dublin student, Emma Crinion of the National College of Art and Design, for her distinctive and unique style, inspired by street furniture.

The Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery has become an important international competition for hand embroidery. Open to students of embroidery, fashion and textiles, it attracted 124 entries in 2005, from the finest new talent in embroidery and design from around the world.

Sponsors

Victoria & Albert Museum www.vam.ac.uk

Royal School of Needlework www.royal-needlework.co.uk

London College of Fashion www.fashion.arts.ac.uk

Embroiderers’ Guild ‘Embroidery’ magazine www.embroiderersguild.com/embroidery

Marion Thomas Couture www.marionthomas.com

Call for Entries for 2006

Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2006 - first prize £5000

Entry deadline - March 31st, 2006

Details of next year’s competition The Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2006, is available to download from www.handembroidery.com .

Background

Hand & Lock is the longest established hand embroidery workroom in London. The company is a fusion of two great embroidery businesses – M. Hand (1767) and S. Lock (1889). Both companies have earned their fine reputations, providing unparalleled service and quality over many years. Today it supplies bespoke hand embroidery to a staggering range of customers around the world. Working with Saville Row and military tailors, couturiers, fashion and bridal designers, film and theatrical costumiers and interior designers, as well as private individuals.

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