We all use clothing to make statements about ourselves, our communities, our cultures and our futures. We are joined by author and former hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, curator and art historian Rachel Dedman and author on sustainable fashion Aja Barber to discuss the transformative power of garments, needlework and our clothing choices through hard times, healing and survival.

Our speakers explore how we hold onto our identity via limited choices of our own attire, from the significance of making and sharing clothes in prison, to the creative force of repurposing our clothing and the women’s history we sew into our cultures when we keep traditional craftsmanship alive.

This discussion will also delve into the broader context of fashion, navigating male and state-imposed dress codes, touching on global movements for sustainability in the fashion industry, the erasure of traditions and how clothes and needlework can be tools for change and survival, as we weave together stories of solidarity and resilience.