Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch, The

The Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch celebrates the award-winning garment conceived by artist Kirstie Macleod and created by 380 individuals in 51 countries over 14 years from 2009–2023. The dress weaves together the diverse stories of its contributors across borders and boundaries uniting artisans and audiences in the shared community of embroidery.

Available in softback, limited-edition hardback and as an e-book, The Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch is a sensitive but energetic curation of material from the dress’ incredible ongoing journey. It features poignant hand-selected embroiderer stories, thought-provoking and illuminating commissioned essays on themes The Red Dress brings up, such as identity, empowerment and healing trauma, and reflections from milestones in the project. The book explores links with the Royal School of Needlework, its invitation to the PACE Winter Session on Equality and Non-Discrimination in 2023 and its inclusion in the ‘Knots that Bind’ exhibition at Hampi Art Labs in India in 2024, nearly two decades after Kirstie’s original travels to the country which sewed the first seeds for the garment.

As creator and custodian of The Red Dress, Kirstie Macleod traces the metamorphosis of the project in terms of both design, impact and ambition. She reveals personal insights from her extensive travels with the dress, which will be listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest collaborative embroidery project, including details of its creation, reception and continuing exhibition tour. Kirstie also shares the background of and practical instructions for specific embroidery styles featured on the dress.

‘There are so many special and unique memories to recount from the project, such as four-year old Ukrainian refugee Adele presenting me with her design for the dress at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, Bedouin Jabaliya women dancing around the completed dress in Egypt’s Sinai desert and mother and daughter Sabina and Ajna Jusić embracing each other while draped in the bodice and skirt of the dress at the ‘Speaking Out’ exhibition at the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina,’ says Kirstie. ‘Through a combination of text, images and detailed illustrations, the book captures and communicates these moments and many more, amplifying their messages and meaning.