About Masako

Masako is a London-based embroidery artist, specialising in Hand Embroidery. She gained the Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery from Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace in England. Now she works for the RSN Embroidery Studio as a Studio Embroiderer. Masako was one of the luckiest embroiderers to be a part of the RSN team that helped Sarah Burton (Alexander McQueen) create the wedding dress, veil and shoes for the wedding of Catherine Middleton to Prince William on 29 April, 2011.

In 2023, the RSN Embroidery Studio team worked on nine pieces for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla: the King’s Robe of State; the Queen’s Robe of Estate; the Anointing Screen; the Stole Royal and Girdle; the Chairs of Estate and the Throne Chairs. Masako feels privileged and honoured to be part of the team. Meeting Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla is one of the highlights of Masako’s career.

Masako is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Broderers. The Broderers’ Company is one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London. The Broderers’ Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery was held at Bankside Gallery, London in 2022. She enjoys being the exhibition coordinator as it gives her opportunities to promote the art of embroidery and to meet the fellow artists in the world.

Creating art is a vital element of Masako’s embroidery practice. She has been a Resident Artist at the Kew Art Studio.

As a freelance embroiderer, Masako takes commissions, and she also designs embroidery kits. Please get in touch via Contact page.

As an embroiderer, Masako tries to take part in as many projects as possible. Here are some examples of projects she worked on.

RSN (Royal School of Needlework) related projects:

2011                Catherine Middleton’s Royal wedding dress [Designer: Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen]

2012                BBC Programme ‘The Manor Reborn’

2013                Red Carpet Green Dress – 007 Skyfall Naomie Harris’s dress at Oscar night [Designer: Michael Badger]

2013-2014      JoJo Cohen’s wedding dress [Designer: L’Wren Scott]

2015                Nicholas Oakwell couture gown for the GREAT Britain Campaign

2015                Cornelia Parker’s Magna Carta (An Embroidery)

2016                HBO’s Game of Thrones embroidery artwork to mark the release of Season 5 DVD

2017                Philip Colbert’s ‘Nude’ series for London Craft Week 2017

2017-2018       Vestments for Buckfast Abbey

2019-present   RSN Stitch Bank

2021                 A new canopy for the shrine of St Amphibalus at St Albans Cathedral

2022                 Katie Paterson’s Evergreen

2023                 A number of items for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, including The Queen’s Robe of Estate, the Anointing Screen and the Stole Royal

Other projects:

2009-2013      Guildford Embroidery

2012                A Gift of Quilt for London Olympic

2013-2015     Magna Carta Embroidery Runnymede

2015                Passion & Legacy project [Red Strand Design]

2017                Heritage Skills Festival [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]

2020                Barts Embroidery [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]

2022                The Broderers’ Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]

2023                Restoration of the tabards for the Heralds [College of Arms]