The Red Dress.

copyright to kirsti macleod (and the hundreds of women embroiderers around the globe, along with approximately 10-12 men and boys. also to the amazing women who constructed the pattern and sewed it together, and all those who've shared in the work of bringing it into reality. 2023). THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EMBROIDERERS FROM 51 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. 14 years of work to bring it to birth.

Although I could be writing about this for days, I will refrain and restrict myself to some (not all!) photos I took of this amazing exhibit at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester Vermont this week.  Alas, it leaves Vermont on Sunday.

A friend asked me whether I'd seen it.  I didn't even know what she was talking about, so she filled me in and I researched what it was/why it was made and knew I had to go to see it.  I am so happy I did, and I urge you to as well.  To better understand what it is about, go to https://reddressembroidery.com/ and prepare to be very, very moved by what you see and read.

Meanwhile, here are more photos from the exhibit.

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Embroidered by women survivors of war.

Golden embroidered image from women needleworkers living in India in poverty. (all those who embroidered on the garment were paid a living wage to do so). Note the additional exquisite embroidery all around the bottom border, done by Bedoin women in Egypt.

From Bedoin embroiderers.

From an embroiderer in the UK.

French knot embroidery (yes, all of the large triangular panel of flowers here, all french knotting), done by a Mexican embroideress. She is the mother of another embroideress who did a similarly-placed panel on the front of the dress.

The triangular geometric panel in the center was embroidered by the 17 year old daughter of the woman who did the work in the previous photo. A mother-daughter team from rural Mexico.

Contributed by a Russian embroideress.

I hope you are interested enough to click on the URL I gave above and read about the intent of this amazing project.  Enjoy.  Many children also added their embroidery to the piece, including some little boys.  And as I mentioned above, around 7 to 9 of the 380 embroiderers were men.  The Red Dress is gradually being brought back to the 51 countries, to the people who worked on it, so that all may enjoy the completed piece.  Many of the women who've worked on it will get to try it on and be photgraphed in it.  I've seen some of the photos and they are incredibly empowering.