Animal products including fur, feathers and exotic skins are problematic materials, yet they remain popular as decorative embellishments in contemporary fashion. As part of PhD practice research, novel textile embellishments were developed based on the historical and contemporary attraction of fur and exotic animal materials, forming future embellishment which can be created using new and sustainable non-animal materials. This project included the planning, design and delivery of in-depth interviews and workshops with the fashion industry, case study research at the Victoria & Albert Museum archive, as well the production of a series of textile artefacts and a garment.

A range of embellishment techniques were explored, including tufting, weaving floats, hand embroidery, beadwork, and gathering and layering with materials varying from glass yarn, to sinamay and sustainable sequins.