It is thought that, initially, these embroideries began by being made by noblewomen. Their main purpose was the decoration of household items, clothing and churches. From the beginning, they have been characterised by naturalistic motifs, largely inspired by the island's scenery.
For this reason, the Madeira Embroidery business gained a more intense momentum. Several houses dedicated to this art appeared and it started to deserve the growing interest of foreigners, such as the British, German or Americans. With that investment, this productive sector suffered a radical improvement, but without ever losing its authenticity.
