The best-seller ‘What they don’t teach you at Harvard’ teaches leadership principles that are not commonly provided in management books. Like this book, the programs around haute couture embroidery techniques by Saskia ter Welle are focusing on practical issues related to embroidery that aren’t commonly shared or available. This knowledge is not shared in the famous embroidery schools in Paris and London. What is missing, is the know-how of the embroidery design proces, how to source the materials and how to prepare larger projects. Valuable knowledge if you want to make a living with your craftsmanship. 

Saskia encourages you to develop all kinds of skills to give you a basis for a creative future. A future that you can shape yourself if you know the worth of what you are doing and how you present yourself. You will discover applications of traditional techniques within a contemporary context. You also discover the possibilities of the internet. This creates countless opportunities for both the preservation of the craft and realising the dream of living of the income of this craft.

Year Program, Intensive training or International Studyweek

In the atelier in Doesburg you can follow different trainings. Whether you are a fashion student, a seasoned professional or an amateur lover: there is always a program that will suit your needs.

Year Program August 2018-May 2019

The year program haute couture embroidery is a program in haute couture embroidery techniques and design, with the possibility to do an internship in the studio. Besides learning broderie d’art embroidery techniques, you explore different approaches to developing a design. You learn to present yourself, both orally and through social media. At the same time you build up your portfolio. With approximately one teaching day every three weeks and a further 10-15 hours of homework per week, this program is part-time. A new group will start in August 2017.

Intensive Course September-November 2018

The Intensive Course follows the same program as the Year program, but in about two and a half months. Here you have courses one  day a week. The rest of the week you will do the assignments and prepare yourself for the next day of classes. This is a full-time program, which runs from 3 September 2018 to mid-November 2018. It gives you a flying start in haute couture embroidery.

International Studyweek July 23-27 2018

The International Study Week is for those who have already followed an extensive embroidery training, and for fashion designers. During this week you will learn the implications of embroidery that are related specifically to the design process and the workflow in the studio. The design of broderie d’art is much more than making a sketch, because you work with so many different materials: threads, beads, sequins etcetera. The program aims to discover ways in which an embroidery design is created and how you write it down, communicate and work it into a concrete plan. 

If you have only worked with small embroideries or a prescribed (and pre-printed) design, this course will open the door for you to design and interpret other people’s designs.

Designing Broderie d’Art

An important part of all these programs is the design of Broderie d’art. It is easy to put a few lines on paper. The impact on different materials, however, completely changes the impact of the work. How can you assess whether what you have come up with in your embroidery design will actually work out fine?

Below you can see an example where the lines of the embroidery design were defined. The samples then provided essential information about the materials and colours to be used:

Fashion and more

Students who follow the programs at Saskia ter Welle’s atelier are not all focusing on fashion. The techniques lend themselves to so much more. For example, the work of Carlijn is particularly inspiring. She combines image with embroidery:

Are you interested in one of these programs but do you doubt which is the best choice for you? Send an email to saskia@saskiaterwelle.nl. We can discuss the possibilities via a Skype call or telephone call.

________________

Couture Education

The program of workshops, masterclasses and training at Saskia ter Welle focuses on professionals in fashion who are looking for a possibility to specialise in couture techniques. In the courses, a balance is sought between technology and inspiration, between knowledge and expertise and artistic expression. Discovering your own handwriting is seen as crucial in the distinctive craftsmanship of each student.