SEW Regional Day - Meet the Speakers, Michele Carragher

The Embroidered Narrative: Costume Embroidery for Film and Television

Michele Carragher is a Costume Embroiderer who specialises in hand embroidery and surface embellishment, using traditional hand embroidery techniques, smocking, beading and surface decoration. She works directly onto the completed garment or starts with motifs and textures on silk organza, which are applied to the costume and then working into once on the actual garment.

Daenery Dragonscale Dress, Game of Thrones, HBO
© Michele Carragher

Michele studied Fashion Design at The London College of Fashion and at the same time attended a three year evening course in Saddlery at the Cordwainers College learning skills in leatherwork. After leaving college she worked in Textile Conservation, repairing and restoring historical textiles before moving into a career in costume for Film and Television, initially working as a Costume Assistant/Maker on productions then gravitated towards the decoration and embellishment of costumes, using skills in hand embroidery and surface decoration.

Margaery’s Wedding Dress, Game of Thrones, HBO
© Michele Carragher

The first production that saw her undertake the role of a Principal Costume Embroiderer was for HBO’s 2005 Emmy Costume award-winning production of Elizabeth 1, starring Helen Mirren. Her most recent work has been on HBO’s 2012/14 Costume award-winning television series Game of Thrones, working on all six seasons. Michele’s highly creative embellishment of the show's stunning costumes are now as much talked about as the television series itself and the books upon which the series is based.

Embroidered Insect, Game of Thrones, HBO
© Michele Carragher

This talk is about the path that led Michele to work in Film and Television industry as a Costume Embroiderer, explaining how she developed her style and techniques, as well as giving insight into how she does her job. Michele will show examples of her embroidery work and explain the process into how she created some of the designs for Elizabeth 1 and Game of Thrones.

http://michelecarragherembroidery.com/

For more information on the SEW Regional Day and a booking form, please email karenroweeg@gmail.com