The Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch

he Red Dress: 380 Embroiderers, 51 countries, 1 dress

The Red Dress, conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod, offers a platform for people, mostly women, many of who have experienced trauma or hardship, to share their remarkable stories of healing, resilience and empowerment through embroidery. The completed Red Dress travelled for 14.5 years and was embroidered by 367 women/girls, 7 men/boys, and 2 non-binary artists from 51 countries. All 141 commissioned artisans were paid for their work and receive annual donations from exhibition fees and merchandise profit. Additional embroideries were added by scores of participants and audiences at various events.

Stitch as a dialogue

Initially, The Red Dress project sought to generate a dialogue of identity through embroidery, merging diverse cultures across borders. Over the years however, the dress has also become a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for voices to be amplified and heard.

The Red Dress aims to reach and connect with as wide-ranging an audience as its contributors, although it speaks particularly to women and values a process that can be seen as domestic labour or craft and which is often undervalued. The dress has made a positive impact on the lives of many (both its embroiderers and audiences) and has the potential to change the lives of women and their communities for many years to come.

The project continues with the ongoing worldwide exhibition tour of the dress, alongside workshops with groups who are creating their own ‘sister dresses’ as part of the Calico Garment Initiative.