Lekazia Turner, embroiderer from Jamaica, 2022

sashiko

DATE: 21.09.24
A 2 hour workshop with Thea Batty, 10am - 12pm | 21st September 2024 at the RED DRESS STUDIO, SOMERSET.

Japanese Sashiko is an ancient sewing method first practised in the Edo period (1603-1867), traditionally used to reinforce worn-out clothing using small repetitive stitches.

This method was born out of necessity during its earlier years, the art of Sashiko has since been passed down through generations of women and developed into a form of decorative stitch embroidery. Due to the characteristic of its process in Western culture today, it is also associated with mindfulness and gentle forms of protesting against fast fashion.

What you will learn:

· Assess the damaged area and understand the fabric you’re about to mend.

· Identify complementary/suitable fabric to patch the damaged area.

· Prepare the area to be stitched, ensuring durability and movement to the garment.

· Future-proof your garments for lifelong wear with this newfound skill.

All equipment and materials will be provided. If you have something to mend please do bring it along, if not there will be sample pieces to work on. Please do not bring waterproof materials, leather, suede clothing, or knitwear. 



INFO:


- This class will be carried out at the RED DRESS STUDIO, Pithers Yard, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AN

- The studio is set up with a high table and stools, do get in touch if you have any back issues and would rather a lower table/supported seat.

- There is free parking throughout Castle Cary (for up to 2 hours) alongside 2 longer stay car parks, the town has bus access and a train station 5 mins drive from the studio.

- Tea, coffee and water will be available throughout the morning, there is also Burnt Honey Café next door, if you fancy staying in town for your lunch afterwards.

- Contact: rdembroideryworkshops@gmail.com


PRICE: £40


(6 PEOPLE MAX)
Please support our CROWDFUNDER to raise the remaining funds to create a book documenting The Red Dress project:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-red-dress-book
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OUR SUPPORTERS

A huge thank you to all who have given their time, energy, enthusiasm, advice, experience and financial support to the Red Dress project over the years.

In addition to the institutions below, funding has been gratefully received from a number of private donations and 441 individuals around the world via 2 Crowdfunding campaigns in 2020 and 2022.

"
Nothing expresses more eloquently the feelings I suspect we share about the importance of embroidery in our lives, and the support we derive from the friendships made through stitch, than Kirstie Macleod’s Red Dress.
Caroline Zoob, Editor of Stitchers Journal 2022
This beautiful object highlights the common ground between individuals, bringing together different identities and uniting people, we are honoured to contribute to it.
Tiny Kox, PACE President at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg 2023
The Red Dress has become an icon of the international textile world.
Suzanne Smith, Textile Society 2022
The Red Dress in its final incarnation, a magnificent, regal robe, symbolises the empowerment of women through the creation of something beautiful, something which began with bowed heads and tired fingers but also with faith and joy, an openness and willingness to be a part of something which they could not see at that time but in which they could believe had meaning and worth connecting with other women around the world.
Lady Alison Myners, Chair of the Royal Academy Trust 2020
The Red Dress is in some respects similar to Mail Art, the populist artistic movement centred on sending small scale works through the postal service. It initially developed out of the Fluxus movement in the 1950s and 60s – but on a larger scale – the journey of the work is part of its identity, process, and in fact function. A signifier of the temporal and physical nature of the process inherent in the creation of the piece. The surface of the dress layered with embroidery slowly transforming into a specific topographical map – completely particular to the work’s journey – and reflective of the burgeoning sculptural landscape of the object.
Paul Black, Artlyst 2015
It’s her (Kirstie’s) red silk Dupion bodice and voluminous skirt created for the Red Dress that fully demonstrates her commitment to embroidery and the immense respect for the international community of makers.
Denna Jones. Embroidery Magazine 2010
...the fact that they could embroider what they wanted and that it is appreciated has given them some strength, some confidence that I didn’t feel so strongly before they created the embroideries.
Nicole Esselan, Founder of Kisany Africa, supporting artisans in DR CONGO and RWANDA who created embroidery on the Red Dress in 2018
This is both an extraordinary work of collective art and profound and eloquent social commentary. It is also an example of how potent the Attire language is capable of becoming.
Attires Mind (Fashion Blogger) 2020
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