Artist talk: The Red Dress

The Red Dress

A 12-Year, Award Winning, Global, Collaborative Embroidery Project by Kirstie Macleod

No Borders

One Dress

Weighing 6.2kg

12 Years in the making

28 Countries

73 Pieces

136 Artisans

244 Embroiderers

Hundreds of stories

Millions of stitches

One woman’s exploration of identity through embroidery has evolved into an exquisite dress that has crossed borders, merged cultures and united marginalised women around the world, by giving voice to their personal stories.

British textile artist Kirstie Macleod began the Red Dress Project in 2009. Initially, exhibiting the dress as an installation, wearing it as she sat in a clear cube working on the embroidery. During the next 12 years the dress took on a life of its own, becoming a platform for women, particularly refugees, the impoverished and those living in war torn countries, to express their feelings and tell their stories. Embroiderers from across the world used stitches that reflected both their culture and country, making the dress an international and multi-cultural piece of textile art.

The burgundy silk dupion “Red Dress” is now complete. Having journeyed around the world for 12 years, it is currently back home in Somerset, where it will be exhibited in January before continuing its travels to museums and galleries in the UK and across the globe.

We are excited to announce that artist Kirstie Macleod and one of the artisans who worked on the dress, will be giving a talk about the embroidery project to the OCA via Zoom on Friday 28th January 2022 at 10am. The event is open to all OCA students and will be recorded to enable international students to see it.  Please register your interest, should you wish to attend.

Further information:

The Red Dress (reddressembroidery.com)

Dress embroidery project unifies women around the world - BBC News