Sophie wins Heritage Crafts Emerging Embroiderer of the Year Award 2025

London embroiderer Sophie Boylan has won the 2025 Emerging Embroiderer of the Year Award, supported by the Broderers’ Company, including a £1,000 prize awarded at a special presentation at Wentworth Woodhouse on Monday 17 November 2025.

The award, now in its second year, celebrates an emerging embroiderer who has made an outstanding start to their craft career. The winner is highly skilled amongst their peers, whilst raising the perceived value of their craft through sharing and awareness raising. They have given themselves a fantastic chance of achieving long-term success, perhaps overcoming disadvantage or setbacks along the way.

Sophie Boylan is currently completing the prestigious CHANEL and King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Fellowship, and has already contributed to high-profile projects for designers including Simone Rocha and Erdem. She is pioneering the development of bio-based sequin alternatives, ensuring the future of luxury embroidery is technically refined and environmentally responsible.

The two other finalists for the award were Katerina Knight, a needleworker who received the prestigious Burberry Design Scholarship for her MA, was selected as a New Order of Fashion Graduate of the Year, and is distinguished by her commitment to slow craft and working in harmony with nature, and Alice Long, whose developed exceptional hand embroidery skills at the Royal School of Needlework and on the CHANEL and King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Embroidery Fellowship, and whose work has been showcased at Selfridges and featured in Vogue.

The Worshipful Company of Broderers is an ancient company with a busy programme blending a keen interest in the art of embroidery with an ethos of friendship, charity support and fun.

Photo: Sophie Boylan, winner of the 2025 Young Embroiderer of the Year Award, and Hanny Newton, goldwork embroiderer and award judge. Photo by Robert Wade.