Every tote starts as an idea and ends as something you'll want to keep forever. Wild Thread Studio brings the work of artist Stephen Wilson, whose embroidered art hangs in museums, galleries, and luxury retailers around the world, into collectible bags crafted by hand, piece by piece, in his Charlotte studio.
Wild Thread Studio was born from the belief that embroidery—one of the oldest forms of ornamentation—can still feel modern, expressive, and deeply luxurious. From our Charlotte, North Carolina atelier, we create embroidered accessories where craftsmanship and contemporary design coexist—not as a trend, but as a way of working.
Every piece begins with a hand-drawn idea, a storied material, or a textile that sparks curiosity. Each charm is sketched, embroidered, assembled, and styled entirely by hand, produced either as a singular creation or in very limited editions. Individuality isn’t an option—it’s the foundation.
All of your questions about the Wild Threads process are answered here
How did you get started?
I started as a freelance embroidery designer in my early 20's working for fashion and production houses in NYC. I have spent more than thirty years drawing with a needle. The journey has taken me from freelance design, to the DIY community, to fine art and now accessories.
What does your art look like?
Millions of embroidery stitches, layered, collaged, and molded together until the work becomes almost sculptural. I build it from designer materials like Hermès silk, Chanel wool, and Ralph Lauren denim, and a single piece can take hundreds of hours. Up close, every line is thread, and every one of them was placed on purpose.
Where has that work ended up?
In the National Gallery of Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, MINART in Guadalajara, and the Brunello Cucinelli headquarters in Solomeo, Italy. I've shown with galleries like DTR Modern, Art Angels, and Roman Fine Art, alongside artists like Warhol, Hirst, Kapoor, and Mr. Brainwash, and at places from Lincoln Center to Bergdorf Goodman.
You've done a lot of custom work. Who have you made pieces for?
çustom pieces for top music artists, Embroidered guitars for Hendrick Motorsports and Wade Bowen. Work for the NFL, NASCAR, the Utah Jazz, the Savannah Bananas, Insomniac Records at the Sphere, and New Era for NBA All-Star Weekend. A custom product line and window installations for Neiman Marcus. Pop-ups with Kemo Sabe in Vail and Round Top and embroidery activations across the United States
So where does Wild Thread Studio fit in?
It's what happened when I wanted that work to leave the wall and go out into the world with you.
How does a design come to life?
It starts on my desk. I draw it, digitize it stitch by stitch, and run it on our machines in Charlotte until the thread does what I saw in my head. Nothing is licensed, borrowed, or pulled from a library. If it's on the bag, it came from my hand.
What happens after the design leaves your desk?
t goes to the bench. Our team works the way bench jewelers do: small, precise, and by hand, with specialty tools and machines built for detail work. Every patch is trimmed, finished, and set individually. Every edge, every seam, every piece of hardware gets looked at up close before it goes on a bag. It's slow work, and that's the point. Craftsmanship is what makes something worth keeping.
Why so few of each bag?
Because nothing collectible should be everywhere. Every tote is a One of One, a very limited edition, or a bespoke commission made to your story.
What are the bags made from?
The materials are the message. We start with totes of every kind: new, vintage, and everything in between. That's what makes each piece unique. From there we add vintage silks, denim, and tapestry remnants chosen for their patina and provenance, full-grain leather and suede from heritage tanneries, and solid brass hardware that gets better with age. Many fabrics are upcycled, because pieces with history make the most interesting art.
How do you decide where the patches go?
The same way I'd compose a piece for a gallery wall: the cowgirl breaking over the lower seam, the horse half out of the frame. Placement is the art. The bag is just where it lives.
And the charms?
Every charm is designed and made with the same care as the bags. Clip them on, layer them, swap them out, collect them. The patches are available on their own too, so you can add them to your favorite items. Make a combination no one else has. That's the whole point.
How do I commission a piece?
A bespoke commission is a bag built around your story: the textiles, the patches, the placement, the charms, all designed with you and made one time only. To start, email concierge@wildthreads.com and we'll send you a guide to get started.
