Embroidery : A Brief History

Embroidery digitizing is gaining in popularity among businesses and individuals as handy imprint mechanisms for clothing. If you have tried this form of imprinting before, you will know how effective it is in getting your message across through t-shirts, caps and other apparel.
But how did embroidery originate in the first place? This article goes back in time to give you the complete picture!

The Chinese connection
The earliest available example of embroidery dates back to the Chinese during 453 BC.

The cloth had an image of an exotic looking tiger sparring with a bird. Part of the cloth can be viewed on the right.

Later, embroidery blossomed under the Han Dynasty.

The royals encouraged weavers to weave and used to patronize them. Work from this period produced some intricate designs that were to captivate the world later.

The embroidery fever spread and caught up in Europe as well. The Swedish, in particular, created some unique designs that gave the world glimpses of their superior craftsmanship.

Soon embroidered clothes became a rage in Muslim societies around the world. From Turkey and Egypt to Lebanon and Syria, there were several kinds of embroidered material on display at homes.

The industrial revolution

Machines significantly boosted the popularity of embroidery works. Embroidered material was now being mass produced by women in spacious factories. France was in the forefront of this revolution during the mid-1800s. St. Gallen in Switzerland then became the hub for machine embroidery during the latter part of the 19th century.

Top fashion brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior still rely on St. Gallen fabrics for their clothing lines. Michelle Obama had worn a dress with St. Gallen embroidery during her husband’s inauguration ceremony in 2009.

A force in the promotional products industry

There are a number of embroidery machines available in the market today to add logos and messages to apparel and gifts. The most popular among these machines are the branded ones from Toyota, Barudan and Tajima.

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