Dressing our identity

In collaboration with the Refugees and Asylum Seekers Project Stockton (RASPS), Action Asylum, and Creative Minds, we invited community members to share a cherished item of clothing that holds deep personal meaning. The resulting exhibition, 'Dressing our identity' showcased an incredible array of garments from delicate wedding sarees to intricately embroidered robes, kaftans, and jewel-adorned dresses. These pieces represent cultures from Somalia to Sri Lanka and Russia to Rwanda. Each piece tells a unique and moving story of identity, heritage, and belonging.  

Dressing our identity was inspired by the The Red Dress exhibition by British artist Kirstie Macleod. The extraordinary dress is embroidered by hundreds of women from across the globe, many who have faced hardship and adversity and was on display at Preston Park Museum in February 2023.