THE RED DRESS: Conversations in Stitch

The long-awaited Red Dress book is nearly here, with a fantastic team assembled and a beautiful selection of stories, images, reflections and essays from the 14-year global collaborative embroidery project ready to be compiled into an exquisitely designed and ethically and sustainably produced book (available in three different formats). 

Today, as creator of The Red Dress project, I’m reaching out to The Red Dress community, an ever-growing supportive web of connection around the world, for support in helping to raise the £10,000 needed to bring this publication to fruition.

The Red Dress

The Red Dress provides an artistic platform for individuals around the world, predominantly women, many of whom are vulnerable and live in poverty, to tell their personal stories through embroidery.

                        Above: Embroiderer Lekazia Turner from Jamaica, 2022

The recently completed Red Dress travelled the globe for 14.5 years being continuously embroidered onto by 367 women/girls, 7 men/boys and 2 non-binary artists from 51 countries, with all 141 commissioned artisans paid for their work and given annual donations from The Red Dress’ exhibition fees and merchandise profit. Additional small-scale embroideries were added by willing participants and audiences at various events.

Initially the project sought to generate a dialogue of identity through embroidery, merging diverse cultures across borders. Over the years however, the dress has also become a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for voices to be amplified and heard.

The Red Dress aims to reach and connect with a wide-ranging audience, although it speaks particularly to women and values a process that can be seen as domestic labour or craft and which is often undervalued. The dress has made a positive impact on the lives of many (both its embroiderers and audiences) and has the potential to change the lives of women for many years to come.

                        Above: Embroidery circle in Chiapas, Mexico, 2020

                        Above: Kisany embroiderers from DR Congo, 2018

Why is The Red Dress important?

• Empowers and amplifies women’s voices
• Accesses diverse communities
• Vehicle for connection with individuals around the globe
• Promotes cross-cultural collaboration
• A community (global and local) artwork
• Emblem of unity and equality, without borders and boundaries
• Uplifts people and brings hope, joy and purpose

THE RED DRESS: Conversations in Stitch

With the garment now completed and touring the world, I’m focusing on the documentation and preservation of The Red Dress and greater project, in order to create more ways to access it, provide a greater depth of information available for study and so it can be enjoyed by more people globally and generations of future audiences in years to come.

The upcoming book will share the deeper story of The Red Dress, its embroiderers and my own story whilst opening up the wider issues the garment prompts for its audiences through thematic essays by individuals involved in the greater project on subjects such as empowerment, finding voice, feminism, community and healing trauma. The book will also share the impact the garment has had, and the many collaborative projects that have begun as a result, including the Calico Dress (sister garments) initiative.

I’m delighted to share that the book will be published by Quickthorn Books UK, an independent publishing house run by Katy Bevan focused on creating ethical and sustainable books about making and self-resilience, such as Celia Pym’s On Mending and Rag Manifesto by Rachael Matthews. All Quickthorn books are ethically printed in the UK and fully compostable.

Katy says, “Quickthorn are delighted to be working with Kirstie to bring her idea to life. The Red Dress has touched many people around the world talking in the international language of stitch. With the continuing Calico Dress project, of which there are ten to date, and the book the power of stitch will reach an even wider audience.” 

    Above: 'THE RED DRESS: Conversations in Stitch' cover design by Mark Matcham Design, 2024

   Above: Page spread design for the FanSina embroiderers, Sinai, Egypt by Mark Matcham Design, 2024

   Above: Page spread design for the Kisany embroiderers, Rwanda by Mark Matcham Design, 2024

Funding:

Quickthorn are supporting much of the cost of creating the book, but I would like to bring in some additional elements to create a publication that tells and presents the story in the best way and is available to as many people as possible.

Also important to mention that a percentage of all royalties from the sales of the books will go to the Red Dress Artisan Fund; an annual payment from the dress's income for all commissioned embroiderers who stitched panels of embroidery for the The Red Dress between 2009-2023.

 What the Crowdfunding money will be spent on:

 1. The opportunity to work with arts writer, journalist and friend Emma Bovill aka ‘Word Bird’ to compile and edit the book. With huge talent (and love) of telling stories, sharing ideas and distilling large quantities of information, Emma will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in helping me tell the greater story. She is also passionate about the female voice and children’s literacy.

 2. Commission long-term collaborator Mark Matcham Design to design the book. Mark (also based in Somerset) has produced all the design elements of The Red Dress project to date, including the logo, website and catalogue, so it feels important that he be able to create the final publication too.

3. Commission five individuals involved in the greater project to write an essay on a chosen theme e.g. finding voice and empowerment.

 4. Printing/design costs to produce an eBook and limited-edition hardback book, as well as the softback version Quickthorn will already be printing.

                    Softback book, 256 x 186mm:

                    Limited-edition hardback book, 256 x 186mm:

Stretch Target:

Should the support reach beyond the £10,000 target, additional funds will go towards printing more books, and promotion/travel expenses for me to promote the books.

Huge thanks for your support,

With love,

Kirstie x

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Testimonials:

“I am very pleased for being part of this big project where lots of other countries took part. It is a great feeling knowing that we contributed on a dress where ladies from different countries worked" 

Fatime Hallili, supported by Sister Stitch, Kosovo 2018

"What a magnificent symbol of how art can represent the power and spirit of women all over the world and transform their work, their imagination and their hope into a thing of beauty".

Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco ALDE) Representative of Conseil National de Monaco & Council of Europe, 2023

“…I can't remember when they embroidered that piece of silk (2018?) but I feel that something has changed since. The fact that they could embroider what they wanted and that it is appreciated has given them some strength, some confidence that I didn’t feel so strongly before. 

Nicole Esselan, Founder of Kisany Africa (supporting artisans in DR Congo and Rwanda)

"Moved to tears by the stories and journey of this exceptional piece of art that has sewn the spirit of the feminine together across the world. Thank you Kirstie for the gift of your vision". 

Comment left by a visitor to the Goddess House, Glastonbury exhibition 2021

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Images of rewards:

Postcard & limited-edition prints of Lekazia Turner, photographed by Mark Pickthall, 2022

Limited-edition hand finished 'Stitches (Spectrum)' ink print by Kirstie Macleod, 2024. (Please note each print is unique and although printed in the same colours, their composition will vary).

An image of the postcard and limited-edition prints available through this Crowdfunder:

'Red Luggage', created by Sue Stevenson, South Africa, 2024

In 2022 Chairlady of the South African International Quilt Festival Leanne Stewart, purchased an offcut from The Red Dress, with a view to it being used to create something new for the 2024 festival.

The burgundy silk dupion fabric was skilfully and thoughtfully transformed into 'Red Luggage' by artist Sue Stevenson displaying a whole host of intricate stitches and adornment, all inspired by the garment, its diverse embroidery and the voices and stories of the hundreds of women from around the world embedded in the cloth.

The base of the bag is signed and dated, and on underside of the top flap you find the word 'Freedom' next to a butterfly. At the bottom there is a tiny mirror (to see yourself in) next to the word ‘Survivor.’ Sue also created a handkerchief for the bag, edged in bobbin lace and signed with the latter ‘A’ for ‘anonymous'. The bag comes with a small wooden stand, and a poignant poem written by Sue.

Kirstie was presented with the bag during the South African Quilt Festival 2024, with Sue's wishes that it be sold to raise money for The Red Dress project, and she's delighted it will feature as one of the rewards on this Crowdfunder, to help bring the book to fruition.

Thank you so much to Sue for creating such a stunning and thoughtful work of art, and to Leanne Stewart for the idea and purchasing the silk fabric all those years ago.

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