Warwick museum unveils “Unity Dress” handmade by refugees

A dress handmade by refugees and asylum seekers has been put on display in the Market Hall Museum in Warwick to symbolise “unity and collaboration”.

The dress shall remain on display until late April.

A series of sewing workshops were hosted by a local fashion designer, Libby Esler, for the tailoring of the “Unity Dress”. The Unity Dress features more than 350 paper flowers and 200 fabric flowers.

The name of the Unity Dress aims to symbolise unity and collaboration. 34 asylum seekers and refugees from 13 different countries hand-stitched the flowers onto the dress, illustrating how people from different backgrounds are united by handcrafting the outfit. The stitching of the dress involved 28 women, two men, and four children.

The Market Hall Museum will display the Unity Dress until the end of April 2025.The museum’s opening times are as follows: Tuesday–Saturday, from 10am to 5pm, with free entry.

The Unity Dress is a beautiful reminder of the creativity, resilience, and cultural richness that these communities bring

Cllr Sue Markham, Warwickshire County Council

Libby Esler, who hosted the project, is the founder of Art Lab, a collective of artists and creative designers. The project was also supported by the Warwickshire Refugee Week Grant Fund 2024.

To celebrate Refugee Week, Warwickshire hosted a Refugee Runway fashion show, in which the Unity Dress was used.

Cllr Sue Markham, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, celebrated the event, saying: “Projects like this highlight the incredible contributions of refugees and asylum seekers in Warwickshire.

“The Unity Dress is a beautiful reminder of the creativity, resilience, and cultural richness that these communities bring.”

The fashion show aimed to bring refugees together by having various cultures displayed through fashion, celebrating culture, identity, and creativity.

Speaking about the project, Libby Esler said: “Growing a garden requires sunshine, nurturing, and care. As it flourishes and blooms into a beautiful, blossoming oasis, we can all appreciate and enjoy its stunning beauty.

“The Unity Dress is more than just a garment – it represents the power of collaboration, the sharing of skills, and the strength found in community. Seeing it come to life has been a truly inspiring experience.”