The Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch is the much-anticipated book bringing together voices from The Red Dress global collaborative embroidery project created by British artist Kirstie Macleod and contributed to by 380 individuals from 51 countries over 14 years from 2009–2023.
It features poignant hand-selected embroiderer stories, thought-provoking and illuminating commissioned essays on themes The Red Dress brings up, such as identity, empowerment and healing trauma, and reflections from milestones in the project.
As creator and custodian of The Red Dress, Kirstie Macleod traces the metamorphosis of the project revealing personal insights from her extensive travels with the garment, which will be listed in Guinness World Records 2026 as the largest collaborative embroidery project. Kirstie also shares the background of and practical instructions for
specific embroidery styles featured on the dress.
'The Red Dress project is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the threads that connect us all,’ said Cassidy Zachary, fashion historian, author and podcaster who supported the crowdfunding campaign for The Red Dress Conversations in Stitch on her popular @the_art_of_dress Instagram platform. ‘I am so excited that this book will continue to spread this beautiful testament to the stories quite literally sewn into the clothes we wear.’
The Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch is published by independent publisher Quickthorn Books UK on 21 May 2025 and available to pre-order from
quickthornbooks.com and good bookshops and online retailers.
Kirstie Macleod and editor/co-author Emma Bovill will be talking about the The Red Dress Project at Hatchards, Cheltenham on Wed, 28 May 2025 18:30 - 21:45. All details here
