The Red Dress - World Textile Day

About

To celebrate World Textile Day, The Red Dress project is coming to Lewes.

The Red Dress project, conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod, provides an artistic platform for individuals, particularly women, and communities around the world, many of whom are vulnerable and/or live in poverty, to tell their stories through embroidery. From 2009 to 2023, pieces of The Red Dress and later the completed garment travelled the globe being embroidered onto.  Constructed out of 87 panels of burgundy silk dupion, the dress has been worked on by 367 women/girls, 11 men/boys and two non-binary artists from 51 countries, earning it a place in the Guinness World Records 2026 for the largest collaborative embroidery project.  All 141 commissioned embroiderers were paid for their work and receive a portion of all ongoing exhibition fees and merchandise sales.

Textile experts will have stalls selling clothing and vintage and contemporary textiles from India, Egypt, Turkey, Central Asia, batik, sashiko thread and much more.