Why Passementerie Matters (And Why the BBC Thinks So Too)

A Twist on Tradition: My BBC Radio 4 interview

On Saturday morning, I sat down in front of a BBC microphone to talk about passementerie – and not just to anyone, but alongside well-known crime author Peter James and prosthetics expert Jim Ashworth-Beaumont on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live presented by Adrian Chiles.

It was a wonderful, yet surreal experience! Passementerie is such a niche craft and I am overjoyed that the BBC asked me to come on and speak about my precious, yet endangered, craft. 

Two designs from my Kaleidoscope collection, a collaboration with Samuel & Sons. Hand-crafted passementerie featuring vibrant fringed tassels and contemporary colour blocking, showcasing the intersection of traditional technique and modern design.

The Twist on Tradition

One of the things I'm most proud of is that we discussed not just the historical weight of passementerie, but its future. Yes, it's steeped in tradition – centuries of it. And yes, it's endangered in the UK. There are only four of us doing this independently now. But that's not a sad ending; it's an inflection point.

What excites me is the breadth of what passementerie can be. I undertake historical recreation work – projects that demand absolute fidelity to period techniques and materials – and that knowledge is invaluable. But I also work contemporarily, asking what passementerie means for today's interiors and design practices. My approach is a twist on tradition. I respect the craft's heritage absolutely, and I can honour it through historical commissions. But I'm also evolving it. I'm asking: what does passementerie mean in a modern space? How can a contemporary pom pom braid or a hand-made tassel make someone feel like their space is uniquely theirs?

That's where the magic happens – in that space between honouring what came before and imagining what comes next.

The Kaleidoscope 2.55” Crete in Porcelain Blue is a playful, yet delicate contemporary braid, part of my Kaleidoscope collaboration with Samuel & Sons.

You've Seen It Everywhere

One of my favourite moments from the interview was explaining that passementerie is everywhere – on curtains, footstools, lampshades, upholstery – but most people don't consciously realise they're seeing it. It's one of those things where once someone points it out, you suddenly spot it in every room you walk into. It pops up everywhere.

It's a miniature work of art with an incredible ability to personalise and elevate a space. That's not hyperbole; that's just what happens when you apply intention and craftsmanship to the details.

What's Next

This interview has been a profound reminder of why this work matters. Keeping endangered crafts alive isn't about nostalgia or dusty preservation. It's about recognising that certain skills – the knowledge to make something beautiful by hand, with intention and precision – have genuine value in the contemporary world.

Whether you're interested in learning the craft, commissioning historical recreation work, or exploring what contemporary passementerie can do for your interior or design project, I offer classes, 1-2-1 tuition, and bespoke commissions.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Pom pom braid, anyone?