Stitched Images: Embroidered Fiber Art by Danielle Clough

Contributing to placing Cape Town on people’s radar in a whole new way, Danielle Clough is a local, multi-talented visual artist, who is part of an emerging crafts-community aiming to redefine Fiber Art. Although initially entranced by the fashion industry, Clough’s sewing skills soon developed into a powerful drawing tool that produces a range of embroidered designs, from detailed, life-like portraits and pop-cultural characters, to flowers, animals and quirky emojis.

“After a few terrible jackets and skirts made of curtains I gave up on fashion design but kept sewing toys, which led me to drawing with thread. I later realized this was 'embroidery'.’’

Danielle Clough

Intersecting the traditional with the contemporary, Danielle Clough lends a new interest to an art form whose roots date as far back as the 5th century BC by creating designs that are “colourful, quirky and bold” as she likes to describe them. As Danielle explains, “I think that there is a trend where people are becoming more drawn to types of craft and art that are time-consuming and they can relate to the effort that goes into the creation. Perhaps it’s a kick back from this instantaneous disposable digital world”.

Also taking an unconventional approach towards framing her designs through re-interpreting materials that have an expected and clearly understood purpose to embroider upon, Danielle uses vintage badminton and tennis rackets as her latest unusual canvas.