Aura was privileged to undertake a unique project for a cathedral in the United States, tasked with both expanding and preserving a beautiful set of hand-embroidered vestments. This project had two main objectives:
1. Crafting new vestments and textiles to complement the existing set.
2. Transferring and restoring intricate hand embroidery from two existing chasubles.
This project required a high level of skill and precision, as the existing pieces were crafted from ivory Tudor Rose damask, demanding exact colour matching and material expertise.

Frontal
The cathedral already had a high altar frontal but required a smaller chapel superfrontal. Aura’s role was to adapt the original design at a reduced scale to ensure a harmonious addition. After providing working sketches and a fabric sample for colour verification, we commenced over 100 hours of intricate hand embroidery. The finished superfrontal measured 75.58" in width with a 9.5" drop, showcasing meticulous detail that complemented the existing high altar frontal.

Veil and Burse
To accompany the altar frontal, we designed a new veil and burse centred around a cross motif to match the existing pieces. The embroidery on these items took an additional 26 hours, and a cream cord finishing around the edges ensured they aligned seamlessly with the current set.

Three New Stoles
To coordinate with a new chasuble featuring restored embroidery, we crafted three new stoles: two with a hand-embroidered crown motif to match the chasuble, and one with a hand-embroidered cross. Each stole was custom-created to ensure the embroidery was indistinguishable from the original.
Close-up images of the new pieces highlight Aura’s craftsmanship.

The cathedral’s two original hand-embroidered chasubles required fabric replacement due to wear. Previous attempts to transfer the embroidery had left visible cream couched edges and gold thread, needing further restoration. Aura’s task was to expertly transfer and reapply the embroidery onto fresh Tudor Rose damask fabric while enhancing its original beauty.
Our team carefully removed the old Jap thread, refreshed the embroidery with new gold Jap edging, and re-attached the restored embroidery to the new chasuble. The end result, as shown in the photos, preserves the detailed artistry while rejuvenating the fabric for ongoing use.

This set of new and restored vestments reflects Aura’s dedication to preserving tradition through precise, quality craftsmanship. With a blend of old and new, this project not only revitalised the cathedral’s collection but also ensured the pieces would endure for years to come.