The Red Dress, a world record-holding global embroidery project, is coming to Museum of Brisbane

Conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod, the piece unfolds as a 14-year global collaboration. Pieces of The Red Dress have travelled across continents, passed between hundreds of hands and gradually evolved into a richly layered work of storytelling. In total, 380 embroiderers have contributed to the project, weaving together personal histories, cultural expression and shared human experience.

At first glance, it’s striking – a flowing burgundy gown, intricate and detailed. Look closer and the scale becomes clear. The dress is constructed from 87 panels of burgundy silk dupion, weighs 6.8 kg and holds a Guinness World Record as the largest collaborative embroidery project. Across its surface sit an estimated 1-1.5 billion stitches, each one added by contributors from 51 countries. Among them are refugees, asylum seekers and disadvantaged women, alongside experienced embroiderers and those picking up a needle for the first time.

Importantly, the project has been built on ethical collaboration. All 141 embroiderers who contributed commissioned works were paid for their time and receive a share of exhibition fees and merchandise sales, reinforcing the value of the stories and skills stitched into the piece.

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Since its completion, The Red Dress has been exhibited in major galleries and presented at political gatherings worldwide. Local presence is also stitched into the work, with Brisbane’s AllThreads community creating a detailed panel inspired by the country’s landscapes, flora and fauna.

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Museum of Brisbane CEO and director Zoe Graham said The Red Dress is a profoundly significant piece, curating the collective voices and lived experiences of hundreds of embroiderers, including local artists, into a single, powerful work that speaks to resilience, identity and shared humanity.

“Kirstie Macleod’s extraordinary 14-year project not only elevates the stories of women and marginalised communities worldwide but also invites Brisbane audiences to connect deeply with the human experience stitched into every thread,” she said.

Now complete and on display in Australia for the first time, The Red Dress will be on show at Museum of Brisbane from July 25 to September 13, inviting embroidery artists, textile enthusiasts and curious visitors alike to take in its intricate detail and experience a work shaped by hundreds of voices.

For details, visit the Museum of Brisbane website.

This article was written in partnership with our good friends at Museum of Brisbane.