Creator Conversations: Anke Drechsel
Anke Drechsel is one of our most beloved manufacturing artists, creating hand-embroidered pillows and animals that are exquisitely designed and expertly produced. To meet Anke in person is almost deceiving given how unassuming, warm, and endlessly hospitable she is. It’s hard to imagine that this petite woman has created one of the most unique textile companies anywhere in the world - one that marries old world craftsmanship with a modern economy.
We were fortunate enough to ask her some questions about how her company in Germany began and developed over the years and we are thrilled to share her story with you. For those of you who already have a piece of Anke’s work in your house, or have gifted something to a loved one, we think you’ll be even more delighted to be surrounded by her artistry.
Q: How did you get started in embroidery and how did that skill become an international business?
I studied textile design at a time when every idea began by hand. Learning to draw and practise traditional techniques gave me a profound understanding of the craft—and of the challenge of transforming an artistic vision into a finished piece.
After graduating, I made documentaries about traditional embroidery and textile-printing techniques. The cultural diversity and rich history of textiles eventually led me back to design. I worked for high-fashion companies before founding the Anke Drechsel Collection in 1987, allowing me to express my creativity freely. The company soon achieved success in Germany and internationally.
Over the years, I have built my own atelier and developed close relationships with the master embroiderers. Together, we unite antique techniques with contemporary ideas, always maintaining the highest standards of quality.
Q: How long does the average animal or pillow take to make?
Creating an embroidered pillow is a lengthy process. The fabric is hand-dyed, cut and stretched onto a wooden frame. The design is transferred onto silk velvet with charcoal before the embroidery begins. Once completed, the piece is carefully cleaned and finished. A pillow takes at least two days only to embroider, depending on the design. A bedcover can take two weeks or more, as the pattern must be adapted to its scale while preserving its balance and beauty.
The animals are exceptionally time-consuming to create. Each part is embroidered separately on a frame before being sewn together, stuffed and finished by hand, always with exquisite attention to detail. Each animal has its own unique character.
Our embroidered animals and birds are admired around the world, although their symbolism varies between cultures. In Japan turtles represent luck, longevity and prosperity; in Germany, pigs and elephants symbolise good fortune; in Portugal, roosters signify faith, fortune and justice.
Q: What was your first pattern and what is your current favorite?
One of my first patterns was Kiana, an intricate graphic design. Among my earliest floral patterns, Madame Bovary remains one of our most successful. The design is inspired by the beginning of the Victorian era, favouring delicate, naturalistic floral motifs. Its multicoloured version incorporates more than twenty-four shades of silk embroidery, and the design has appeared in numerous colourways and applications, from cushions and wall coverings to bedding, animals and bags. It remains timeless.
Other favourites include Garden, Tuileries, Twine, Liza and Milva. Some designs are particularly suited to cushions, while others come alive on our embroidered animals. My personal favourite is probably the elephant, although I am always charmed by each animal that I adopt into my ever-growing animal family.
Q: What's been the biggest change in the business over the past twenty years - or what change do you actively try to avoid?
I am very demanding of myself. I must love a design before putting it into production, and I never compromise on quality or detail. I am equally proud of the people behind the collection. Some have worked with me for more than twenty years.
These enduring relationships—with my embroiderers, production partners and clients—are essential to the collection. I believe true craftsmanship is built on trust, loyalty and time. Above all, I want each piece to express the beauty of its making: designs that enchant, endure and bring the human touch of embroidery into everyday life. These ethics and intentions are the foundation of my company and probably the secret to my success.