Skirt c. 1960s - 1970s

This red skirt, of unknown date and maker, is embroidered. Imagine the quiet labor, the hours of stitching. There's a pattern, but it’s not rigid, there's something human and a little wobbly about it, a kind of gentle hum. It makes me think of quilters, all those women working together, riffing on tradition, improvising like jazz musicians. The color is deep, like dried blood, or rust, with all these little pops of jewel tones – emerald, ruby, sapphire. Each stitch is a tiny decision, a mark, a gesture. Like a painter layering colors, building up a surface, the maker of this skirt is composing with thread. I love the idea of someone wearing this, the fabric swirling around them, the light catching those tiny mirrors. It’s like they're carrying their own little world with them. That's what all makers do, they share their vision and invite us in.