Adele Boriak & Mariia Zalizniak (ukraine)at Council of Europe
FRANCE / 2023
SECTION OF DRESS: Family of Stars
A poignant and meaningful addition to the Red Dress on behalf of all the women at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg
Kirstie writes:
The Red Dress was invited to be on display as part of the 2023 PACE Session on ‘Equality & Non-Discrimination’ at the Council of Europe. Part of the opening of the session involved an event dedicated to the Red Dress Project, where speeches were given by myself, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović, Tiny Kox, President of the Assembly and Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, 1st Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination.
Part of the event was also to announce that a new motif would be added to the Red Dress during the 5 day exhibition on behalf of all the women in the Assembly by 2 refugees from Ukraine. 4 year old Adele Boriak has designed the image of a ‘Family of Stars’ representing the 12 stars from the European flag, which were then stitched onto the dress by master embroiderer Mariia Zalizniak.
“This beautiful object highlights the common ground between individuals, bringing together different identities and uniting people,” said PACE President
Tiny Kox. “We are honoured to contribute to it.”
“We can read this dress as if it were a book, telling the personal stories of each embroiderer,” said Beatrice Fresko of the Women PACE group. The stars to be sewn into the dress, of different sizes, represented "all the diversity of our countries and their peoples", she added.
For more info on the Council of Europe: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/
—
Adele Boriak’s story:
A 3-year-old Adele had a happy and prosperous life with her parents in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
Things changed on 24 February 2022 after the full-scale Russian war against Ukraine.
The first day Adele spent in a bomb shelter with her mom, who on the following day decided not to risk Adele's life and left Kyiv as the Russian army was advancing towards the city.
Adele had to run away, hiding from the Russian army and listening to the sounds of Russian missiles and military planes flying above.
Holding her teddy bear, the only thing she had left of her home, Adele and her mom headed toward the border with Poland and spent many hours there with thousands of other Ukrainian girls and boys fleeing the war…
A few days later, Adele came to France, where she was warmly welcomed and offered safety and protection.
Today a 4-year-old brave Adele lives in Strasbourg and goes to school like other Ukrainian refugees in Europe. She plays the piano and does ballet. Her life goes on.
Adele misses Ukraine very much, but she knows that light will soon win over darkness, and she will see her country shine in the rays of victory.
—
Mariia Zalizniak’s story:
My name is Mariia. I am Ukrainian. I was born in the Lviv region and have lived for many years in Kyiv.
The project Red Dress, initiated by the British woman Kirstie shows that it can unite women from the whole world who still live in their countries or are refugees or displaced persons.
This project shows it has no boundaries and that embroidery has no limits. All women were united by one goal - love for their people, homeland, traditions, and culture.
I contributed to this project as a Ukrainian refugee. I embroidered 12 stars - a symbol of the European Union which unite continents, countries, and people who want to live together in peace without encroaching on anyone's borders, language, traditions and culture.
I am very fond of tender Kirstie, who united us all.
Her project, this dress, is energetically very powerful. It embodies both love and longing for a homeland.
I thank Kirstie very much for this opportunity.
—
Contact: Please connect with Kirstie at reddressembroidery@gmail.com to put you in touch directly.
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.
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.
"
"