Red Dress Project Unites World Through Embroidery

Quick Smiles:

• The Red Dress project involved 380 embroiderers from 51 countries over 14 years.
• This global collaboration resulted in an estimated 1.5 billion stitches on 87 panels of silk.
• The finished dress is set to be recognized by Guinness World Records in 2026.

A stunning silk dress, 14 years in the making, now shines as the largest-ever collaborative embroidery project in history. Crafted from 87 panels of burgundy silk dupion, the Red Dress project engaged 380 people from around the globe—women, men, and non-binary artists—each adding their unique stitches and stories.

British artist Kirstie Macleod created this project to give people worldwide a voice through embroidery. Over the years, pieces of the dress traveled internationally, touching 51 countries and showcasing the talents of refugees, survivors, and disadvantaged women from regions like Palestine, Syria, Ukraine, South Africa, and beyond.

The artists were celebrated for their contribution, receiving payment and a share of exhibition fees and merchandise sales. The Red Dress has graced galleries and museums worldwide, modeled here by Jamaican contributor Lekazia Turner.

“Some used embroidery styles practised for hundreds of years within their family, village or town,” explained Macleod.

“While others chose simple stitches to convey powerful, at times, traumatic, events from their past. They also captured the potential for healing through the act of voicing and processing their experiences via the dress.”

Many participants are now rebuilding their lives with embroidery, using these skills to support themselves and their communities through consistent work and creative expression.

This remarkable project stands as a testament to the healing power of art and connection. For more heartwarming stories and global good news, keep following us!

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