CALICO dress NO. 6
Hampi Art Labs, Vijayanagar, Hampi, India 2024 – ongoing
Initiated by women from the Bunkai handloom school alongside the ‘Knots that Bind’ exhibition in November 2024 at Hampi Art Labs, Vidyanagar, India.
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The Bunkai handloom school is a livelihood project which is supported by the JSW Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works for rural empowerment in India. Meaning ‘weaving by hand’, the community focuses on reviving traditional handloom techniques.
Women supported by the initiative added the first stitches to Calico Dress No. 6 after The Red Dress travelled to the region in November 2024 to be displayed at nearby Hampi Art Labs arts centre in the ‘Knots that Bind’ exhibition.
After sharing the story of The Red Dress, Kirstie led an embroidery workshop with the women, encouraging them to imaginatively sketch designs on paper before using their skills to transfer them onto sections of the calico dress which will later be sewn together.
Under the guidance of Meera Curam, textile designer and Residency Director at Hampi Art Labs, Calico Dress No. 6 will visit further initiatives supported by the JSW Foundation bringing together skills, heritage and voices to be expressed on the garment. This includes enabling women in Barmer, Rajasthan, who are unable to read or write to express themselves using fabric applique.
https://www.hampiartlabs.com/current-exhibitions/knots-that-weave
OUR SUPPORTERS
A huge thank you to all who have given their time, energy, enthusiasm, advice, experience and support to The Red Dress project over the years.
In addition to the organisations below, funding has been gratefully received from a number of private donations and via three crowdfunding campaigns in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
In addition to the organisations below, funding has been gratefully received from a number of private donations and via three crowdfunding campaigns in 2020, 2022 and 2024.












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