You Won’t Believe How Embroidery Is Fueling Today’s Feminist Revolution!

Embroidery has long been synonymous with delicate doilies and vintage heirlooms—an art seen as quaint or tied to bygone eras. Yet today, women’s collectives and solo artisans are wielding needle and thread as powerful tools for expression, protest and healing. From Italian women’s groups commemorating Survivors’ Day to Japanese sashiko-inspired high–fashion, hand embroidery is experiencing a radical renaissance. Here’s how this centuries-old technique has been repurposed into a modern form of activism and emotional repair.

When stitch becomes statement: the craftivism movement

The term “craftivism”—coined by writer Betsy Greer in 2003—describes the fusion of creative handicrafts and political activism. Historically, suffragettes embroidered their slogans onto banners and scarves to rally support for women’s voting rights. Today’s craftivists continue this tradition, using projects to:

Raise awareness of social injustices, from gender inequality to climate change.

Create safe communal spaces where participants can share stories and build solidarity.

Produce tangible symbols—embroidered patches, banners, wearable art—that carry messages into public arenas.

On International Survivors’ Day, women’s shelters in Milan collaborated to stitch “Gusta la vita” placemats, reminding survivors of abuse to savour life rather than dwell in fear. This blend of empathy, skill and message exemplifies stitch-based activism.

Healing through texture: embroidery as therapy

During and after lockdowns, countless individuals turned to handcrafts to soothe anxiety and rebuild a sense of control. Psychology studies confirm that repetitive, focused activities like embroidery can:

Lower cortisol levels and reduce stress, mirroring mindful meditation.

Enhance fine motor skills and provide a calming rhythm to daily life.

Offer a tangible achievement—transforming thread into art fosters confidence and purpose.

In London’s Knit & Natter community, weekly embroidery circles helped women confronting isolation to reconnect. Volunteers also teach stitching to young adults with learning differences, illustrating craft’s power to unite and empower.

Stitching solidarity in social enterprises

Nonprofit social enterprises are harnessing embroidery to provide training and employment opportunities for survivors of violence. Notable examples include:

Atelier Molce, Milan: Founded by psychologist Paola Maraone and stylist Adriana Morandi, this atelier offers women abuse survivors vocational training in tailoring. Each stitch supports not only a finished garment but also personal rehabilitation.

Embroidery Circles in Valencia: Street artist Raquel Rodrigo’s Arquicostura merges architecture and sewing. Her giant cross-stitched florals on public walls reclaim city spaces while highlighting women’s often-invisible labour.

Etsy Empowerment Kits, USA: “Empowered Embroidery” kits guide buyers through creating feminist icons via cross-stitch, turning hobbyist interest into small business ventures for independent craftspersons.

These programs underscore how embroidery can fuel economic independence and social cohesion, transforming needlework into sustainable career paths.

Textile activism on the runway

High–fashion labels are borrowing from craftivism to make political statements. In recent runway shows:

Designers have incorporated sashiko—an ancient Japanese running stitch—into ethical streetwear, marrying artisanal tradition with sustainable fabrics.

Artists collaborate with workshops in refugee camps, displaying embroidered messages on couture capes and jackets, spotlighting displacement crises.

Champions of slow fashion emphasize hand-stitched details over mass-production, advocating mindful consumption to combat fast-fashion waste.

By elevating handcrafted stitches to luxury status, these houses drive home the value of skilled manual labour and conscious consumerism.

Stitched narratives: personal and political

Jess T. Dugan’s “Look at Me Like You Love Me” exhibition in Milan illustrates embroidery’s narrative potential. Thirty large–format photographs—each digitally embroidered by hand—capture queer identities and histories. Dugan’s subtle pastel hues and visible thread lines emphasize:

The fluidity of gender, as water imagery merges with cross-stitched borders.

Intergenerational connectivity, with older and younger figures sharing entwined stitches.

The poignancy of memory: family heirlooms re–imagined with modern queer symbols.

Stitch here becomes both metaphor and medium for healing trauma, bridging personal stories with collective awareness.

How to get involved: starting your own stitch project

If you’re inspired to channel activism through embroidery, follow these steps:

Choose a cause you care about—mental health, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights—and develop a simple slogan or symbol.

Select your canvas: fabric, clothing, tote bag or even a small framed hoop.

Gather basic supplies: embroidery hoop, needles, embroidery floss, scissors.

Start with a stitched banner or patch—small projects build skills and confidence.

Document your process on social media with a dedicated hashtag, fostering community discussions.

Consider joining or starting a local stitch-and-share meet-up to exchange tips and stories.

Craftivism can begin at your dining table. Each stitch can spark conversations and bear witness to causes that matter.

The future of needle activism

As digital fatigue grows, tactile crafts like embroidery offer refreshing real–world connections. Future trends may include:

Augmented reality (AR) embroidery, where stitches trigger digital narratives via smartphone.

Collaborative mural–scale embroideries in urban centres, amplifying public art messages.

Integration of recycled textiles, merging upcycling with protest art for sustainability.

One thread at a time, women around the globe are patching the social fabric—literally and figuratively—by reclaiming needle and thread as symbols of resilience, craft and hope.