Ruse hosts creation of Bulgaria's largest dress

The Bulgarian city of Ruse will become the stage for stitching the country's largest dress on July 29‑30. Designer Ivan Donev leads the project “From the golden hands of our grandmothers and mothers,” backed by the Ruse Municipality and hundreds of volunteers who have donated hand‑knitted lace squares gathered from families across Bulgaria and the diaspora.

The work will move between four historic venues – the Lapidarium of the Historical Museum, the Gyunesh 2012 community centre, the Angelа Chakъryan cultural centre, and the St Dimităr Băsârbovski Monastery – allowing the public to observe or take part. A film crew is documenting the effort. On 6 September the completed dress will travel to Plovdiv for a showcase at the Ancient Theatre as part of the national celebration of Bulgaria’s unification.

Organisers stress the dress is a symbol of unity, continuity and the Bulgarian spirit, weaving together craft traditions from more than 150 villages into a single, monumental garment.