Stitching Stories: The Red Dress & Sambhali Sutra
Bringing Together Global Voices Through Stitch: The Red Dress (2009–2023) and Sambhali Panels (Rajasthan, India 2019)
The Red Dress is a 14-year, award-winning global collaborative embroidery project (2009–2023), conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod. The garment serves as an artistic platform for individuals worldwide—primarily women, many of whom are vulnerable and live in poverty—to share their personal stories through embroidery.
As part of The Red Dress’s ongoing world tour, the garment will be exhibited alongside panels from Sambhali at The Barn, Hawkers Farm, Dorset, from 29 November - 5 December 2024.
The Red Dress is a 14-year, award-winning global collaborative embroidery project (2009–2023), conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod. The garment serves as an artistic platform for individuals worldwide—primarily women, many of whom are vulnerable and live in poverty—to share their personal stories through embroidery.
As part of The Red Dress’s ongoing world tour, the garment will be exhibited alongside panels from Sambhali at The Barn, Hawkers Farm, Dorset, from 29 November - 5 December 2024.
Image: Kirstie Macleod with FanSina embroiderers, Sinai. Photo courtesy of Georgina Sleap. Image above: Lekazia Turner, Embroiderer from Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Mark Pickthall 2022.
Between 2009 and 2023, sections of The Red Dress traveled across the globe, continuously embroidered by a diverse array of hands. Made from 87 pieces of burgundy silk dupion, the dress has been worked on by 367 women and girls, 11 men and boys, and 2 non-binary artists from 51 countries. Of the 141 commissioned embroiderers, all were paid for their work and continue to receive a share of exhibition fees, merchandise sales, and the opportunity to sell their own work through The Red Dress Etsy shop. Additional embroidery was contributed by willing participants at various exhibitions and events.
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