WOVEN launches the Yorkshire Calico Dress and is calling on community groups across Kirklees to get involved

Following the extraordinary success of the Red Dress this year, West Yorkshire textiles festival WOVEN has launched the Yorkshire Calico Dress - its own version of the Calico Garment Initiative and a new opportunity for creative community participation. The completed dress will be displayed at the WOVEN Festival 2027. The Red Dress, a collaborative embroidery project, worked on by 367 women/girls, 11 men/boys and two non-binary artists from 51 countries, was conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod and this summer spent a month on display at Oakwell Hall, as part of the WOVEN 2025 festival, attracting more than 3,600 visitors from around the UK.

Kirstie’s Calico Garment Initiative is Inspired by exhibitions and events featuring the Red Dress and invites people from all backgrounds to collaborate on a sister dress made from affordable, medium-weight calico. WOVEN will host a dress in Kirklees working alongside Ravensthorpe Community Centre to invite organisations to contribute their stitching to the dress. Organisations already on board to take part include Khooshi Group Heckmondwike, PKWA Women's Group and RCC Sewing Groups. Initial funding to support the project comes from Kirklees Council’s Community Plus fund, part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

“Following the success of The Red Dress exhibition, I’m delighted that the Kirklees community will be taking part in the Calico Dress Initiative. I look forward to seeing the unique dress and hearing about the community collaborations and meaningful connections that result,” said artist Kirstie Macleod.

WOVEN curator Natalie Walton added, “By inviting groups from across the district to stitch their stories into the calico dress, we hope to celebrate the diversity and shared experiences of our region. It’s a really great opportunity for people to connect, collaborate and carry on the spirit of the Red Dress, creating something that really belongs to all of us.”

Councillor Carole Pattison, Leader of Kirklees Council said: “The Yorkshire Calico Dress is a wonderful example of how creativity can bring communities together. It builds on the incredible impact of the Red Dress and gives people across Kirklees a chance to share their stories through textiles. I’m proud that our district is leading the way in this regional celebration of heritage, identity, and collaboration.”

Applications are now open for organisations to participate in embroidering the dress. Groups have until 1 December 2025 to apply and must start working on the dress by March 2026. The Yorkshire Calico Dress will be part of a major display in 2027 as part of the next WOVEN festival.

The aspiration is to host a dress in all five districts of West Yorkshire. Therefore the WOVEN team is also seeking to partner with community organisations in Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds and Calderdale to host their own dress. Please email emma@hatchprojects.org.uk for more information.