Red Dress Project: Record breaking embroidery project at Devon House
A record-breaking embroidered dress, stitched by 380 people from 51 countries, is the centrepiece of The National Trust’s Killerton’s winter celebrations this year. It’s on show until Sunday 4th January.
The House has hosted the internationally recognised Red Dress Project from the end of November. The powerful artwork was created by Somerset artist, Kirstie Macleod.
The dress is made from red silk dupion and was embroidered over a period of 14 years. It features the work of 367 women and girls, 11 men and boys alongside two non-binary people.
It’s earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records 2026 as the most collaboratively embroidered textile artwork in the world.
Kirstie Macleod’s original intention was to unite people across the world through stitch. The dress was fourteen years in the making, with each piece of silk hand-embroidered by individuals and groups across the globe.
The final dress weighs 6.8 kg and is covered with 1–1.5 billion stitches together with hundreds of tiny beads and metallic threads that sparkle to catch the eye.
The dress was assembled in 2009 with panels removed, sent out then reattached or simply added in over the course of the project.
From 2020 onwards, when external funding was in place, the full garment was able to travel as all over the world revisiting some of its creators in the process.
The result is a vibrant and moving tribute to the makers, many of whom were working in conflict zones, refugee camps or living in poverty.
Image: © Steven Haywood / National Trust Images
‘An opportunity for voices to be amplified and heard’
The work has given voice to their struggles and, in the case of traditional stitching, represents their culture through embroidered textiles.
The 141 commissioned embroiderers were all paid for their work and receive an annual donation from the project’s exhibition fees and merchandise sales, as well as the opportunity to sell work through The Red Dress online shop.
Visitors will be able to admire the skilled handwork and creativity involved in every stitch, with each section of the dress representing a different group or individual.
The white peace doves embroidered by Sister Stitch, Manchester, in support of refugee women from Kosovo are particularly moving.
People will also be able to watch a short film following Kirstie and the return of the dress to the mountains of Chiapas in Mexico to show to some of the embroiderers in 2020.
The spirit of The Red Dress is reflected in a local project, Community Threads, produced by a variety of local groups as well as staff and volunteers at Killerton.
‘Initially the project sought to generate a dialogue of identity through the embroidery, uniting people around the world without borders,’ explains Kirstie.
‘However, over the 14 years the dress has also become a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for voices to be amplified and heard.’
Image: © Steven Haywood / National Trust Images
‘A dialogue of identity through the embroidery’
Community Threads is a new work assembled from squares embroidered by local community groups, staff and volunteers at Killerton.
Local groups were invited to create their own embroidered squares, illustrating their identity, culture or community.
These have been sewn together into vibrant banners displayed along the house’s long corridor – Killerton’s echo of the global collaboration represented by The Red Dress.
Leading up to The Red Dress display, each ground-floor room will be dressed in lush green garlands, sparkling trees, decorated fireplaces and handcrafted touches – all designed to evoke the warmth and joy of the season.
Meanwhile, there are external playful activities inspired by games from around the world will guide visitors through the gardens, parkland and Chapel grounds, inviting all ages to explore and take part.
The Chapel will be adorned with trees decorated by local community groups, continuing Killerton’s long-standing tradition of celebrating togetherness and shared stories.
Breaktime News has previously reported on The National Trust creating a ‘living library’ of trees at Killerton to help to save Britain’s rarest and most threatened native species: the black poplar.
