The Red Dress | BY KIRSTIE MACLEOD | Apr 15, 2023 | Red Dress | Home Insurance | Start A Quote Today!
Shield Insurance Blog | Red Dress | Home Insurance | Start A Quote Today! |
375 Embroiderers
51 COUNTRIES
1 DRESS
A 14-year, award-winning global, collaborative embroidery project from 2009 to 2023
The Red Dress project, conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod, provides an artistic platform for women around the world, many of whom are vulnerable and live in poverty, to tell their personal stories through embroidery.
From 2009 to 2023, pieces of the Red Dress traveled the globe being continuously embroidered. Constructed out of 85 pieces of burgundy silk dupion, the garment has been worked on by 366 women/girls, 7 men/boys, and 2 non-binary artists from 51 countries. All 140 commissioned embroiderers were paid for their work and received a portion of all ongoing exhibition fees, merchandise, and the opportunity to sell their work through the Red Dress Etsy shop. The rest of the embroidery was added by a willing audience at various exhibitions & events.
Embroiderers of the Red Dress
Embroiderers include female refugees from Palestine, Syria, and Ukraine, women seeking asylum in the UK from Iran, Iraq, China, Nigeria, and Namibia, survivors of war in Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Rwanda, and DR Congo; impoverished women in South Africa, Mexico, and Egypt; individuals in Kenya, Japan, Turkey, Jamaica, Sweden, Peru, Czech Republic, Dubai, Afghanistan, Australia, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Tobago, Vietnam, Estonia, USA, Russia, Pakistan, Wales, Colombia and England, students from Montenegro, Brazil, Malta, Singapore, Eritrea, Norway, Poland, Finland, Ireland, Romania, and Hong Kong as well as upmarket embroidery studios in India and Saudi Arabia.
Initially, the project sought to generate a dialogue of identity through embroidery, uniting people around the world without borders. However, over the 14 years, the dress has also become a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for voices to be amplified and heard.
Many of the embroiderers are established professionals, but there are also pieces created by first-time embroiderers. The artists were encouraged to create a work that expressed their own identities whilst adding their own cultural and traditional experiences. Some used specific styles of embroidery practiced for hundreds of years within their family, village, or town whilst others chose simple stitches to convey powerful events from their past. Some of the women are rebuilding their lives with the help of embroidery, by using their skills or being trained in embroidery to earn a decent and consistent living.
The Red Dress Exhibitions
The Red Dress has been exhibited in various galleries and museums worldwide, including Gallery Maeght in Paris, Art Dubai, Museo Des Arte Popular in Mexico City, the National Library of Kosovo, National Waterfront Museum in Wales, Fashion and Textile Museum, in London, an event at the Royal Academy in London, and the Premio Valcellina Textiles award in Maniago, Italy where it won first prize in 2015.
The Red Dress’s 14-year creation journey around the world is now just about completed with the garment assembled in its final configuration. Covered in millions of stitches, the 6.8 kg. silk Red Dress is weighted as much by the individual stories and collective voices waiting to be heard as by the threads and beads that adorn it.
Moving forward, as well as continuing to develop a strong online platform the Red Dress will be traveling to many different galleries, museums, and event spaces around the world – with a continued aim to be accessible to all. Kirstie hopes to bring the garment to visit the countries of all commissioned embroiderers and exhibit the Red Dress alongside their own work in their chosen venue.
Practical and logistical support with commissions for the project was provided by the following charities, self-help development projects, social enterprises, and various initiatives providing support to women in poverty: Manchester Aid for Kosovo supporting Sister Stitch in Kosovo; Kisany in Rwanda and DR Congo; Missibaba in South Africa; Kitzen in Mexico; Al Badia in Lebanon supporting Palestinian refugees; FanSina in Egypt; the Swansea Women’s Asylum & Refugee Support Group, Wales and the War Childhood Museum in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Seed investment for the project was provided by the British Council Dubai in 2009 and subsequent funding has been received by the Arts Council Lottery Fund & the British Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo.
