About me
I’m Denisa Manoila, a passionate embroidery artist based in Romania and a 2024 graduate of the Royal School of Needlework. My work is deeply inspired by my Romanian heritage, which influences my designs and adds a rich cultural dimension to my embroidery. I strive to create pieces that blend tradition with contemporary artistry, ensuring that every stitch tells a story.
I love working with a variety of materials and techniques, always aiming to bring my ideas to life with elegance and symmetry. Whether through intricate hand embroidery, decorative art, or bold textural compositions, I am constantly exploring new ways to push the boundaries of this craft.
Collaboration is at the heart of my creative journey—I enjoy working on artist collaborations, bespoke commissions, and decorative art projects. For me, embroidery is more than just a skill; it’s a form of storytelling, a way to honor my heritage while embracing modern artistic expression.
In my latest collection, Reflections of Vanity, I explored light, reflection, and human nature through embroidery and adornment. My work incorporates reflective beads, mirrors, and silk shading, carefully arranged to create a sense of symmetry and elegance. Through Photoshop experimentation, I analyzed how these elements interact with the body, refining my designs to feel both elevated and wearable. This led me to focus on silk shading and raised work techniques, creating a more detailed, armour-like effect.
While many ancient myths portray gods as symbols of power and beauty, they were also deeply flawed, reflecting human weaknesses such as vanity and pride. This collection does not glorify them but rather examines the way reflections—both literal and metaphorical—have shaped ideas of self-image throughout history. My Romanian heritage also plays a significant role in my work. A winter visit to my hometown inspired me to incorporate snowflakes, whose elegance, symmetry, and complexity became central motifs in this collection.
I began my design process by studying historical jewelry, experimenting with Photoshop placements, and creating embroidered samples to develop my artistic direction. The final collection features three intricate body adornments for Spring/Summer 2024, crafted from stitched and wired crystals, pearls, mirrors, and sculptural elements. My chosen color palette—bold red, elegant white, and reflective silver—enhances the contrast between strength and delicacy. Alongside the main pieces, I created an ornate headpiece and decorative tassels, all held together with crystals, silver jewelry hoops, and beads. While two pieces require custom dresses for functionality, the headpiece stands alone, reinforcing the collection’s ethereal yet structured aesthetic.
Through this work, I explore how ornamentation, reflection, and perception shape our understanding of beauty and identity, blending tradition with contemporary craftsmanship.
‘Reflections of Vanity’
Body of Work
During my studies at the Royal School of Needlework, I explored a variety of embroidery techniques through experimental sampling and technical frames. My work focuses on precision, texture, and composition, using embroidery as a medium for artistic expression. I am particularly drawn to the balance between structure and fluidity, carefully selecting materials and stitches to create depth and refinement.
Below are images showcasing experimental skills such as black work, crewel work, gold work, raised work, silk shading, and white work. Each piece reflects my dedication to craftsmanship and the exploration of traditional techniques in a contemporary context. Through these samples, I refined my technical abilities while developing a deeper understanding of the intricacies of hand embroidery.
Awards & Recognitions
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Knit and Stitch show, Alexandra Palace, October 2023 and October 2024
Frames and ‘Reflections of Vanity’ collection displayed
‘EXILE: sono oriunda exhibition’, Susan Aldworth, The Hub, Sleaford, May-July 2023
Installation of vintage children’s hand embroidered nightgowns
Hampton Court Degree Show, Hampton Court Palace, June 2024
‘Reflections of Vanity’ collection and portfolio displayed and presented
Student Fashion Week, The Truman Brewery, June 2024
Headpiece form the ‘Reflections of Vanity’ collection was on display
New Designers, Business Design Centre, June 2024
‘Reflections of Vanity’ collection and portfolio displayed and presented
Fashion & Embroidery Exhibition, National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, March 2025 ‘Reflections of Vanity’ collection displayed and presented
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Embroidery - Black work, canvas work. crewel work, gold work, raised work, silk shading, white work
Design - Photoshop, illustration, photography, pattern cutting, felting, sewing machine skills, fabric manipulation
Additional Skills - Activity Coordinator, fluent in Romanian
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‘The Red Dress Project’, curated by Kirstie Macleod, February 2022
First Romanian citizen to embroider on the Red Dress Project
Created a floral motif of Romania’s national flower, with the country’s flag colours surrounding the shape for a textiles project that aims to bring women from multiple countries, and cultures together through the universal language of embroidery
‘Fields of Everywhen’, devised by Neil Musson and Jono Retallick, January - May 2022
Created an embroidered a personalised story from a Thamesmead area local family. The frame was printed amongst others onto a hot air balloon that flew in Thamesmead from August 2022 and June 2023.
‘EXILE: sono oriunda exhibition’, devised by Susan Aldworth, December 2022 - February 2023
Exhibition celebrating Luigia Berni’s (Susan Aldworth’s grandmother) life story of exile through photographs and imagery depicting her religion and children. The embroidery was made on antique Victorian children’s night gowns. The piece that was part of an installation displayed amongst other students work at The Hub, Sleaford opened from May - July 2023.
Alexander McQueen, May - February 2023
Worked on digital drawings, sketchbooks, and samples for the theme of ‘Below The Myths’ inspired by the Plato’s Atlantis SS10 collection. The theme was a response to the set brief of an out of the box, imaginative idea that maintains the McQueen DNA. Ideas were presented to the Alexander McQueen embroidery team.
Anointing Screen for King Charles IlI, March 2023
Contributed to the collective embroidery project by the Royal School of Needlework’s Embroidery Studio for the Anointing Screen for the Coronation of King Charles III.
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Hand Embroiderer for the Alexander McQueen Embroidery Team: April 2023 - Present
AW24 February and AW25 March Collections, presented at Paris Fashion week, part of the team that worked on the collection in Paris.
Beyoncé Special Project, April/May 2023 - Beadwork and appliqué techniques for the Renaissance world tour.
Pre AW23 Collection dresses and shoes in May 2023 - Repairing alterations on bugle bead dress worn by Emily Blunt at the London Premier of the Oppenheimer.
Hand Embroidery work for the London Transport Museum Global Poster Gallery opening: October 2023 - November 2023
Part of the Young Volunteer Project working creatively with a team of freelancers, coming up with activities for the Late event – Celebrating the new Global Poster Gallery opening - at the LTM.
Created samples of the underground sign for visitors to stitch on, made exemplar stitch samples.
Taught visitors simple stitches, who were brought together by the art of embroidery.
Created a portfolio for the achievement of a Bronze Arts Award