Seeing RED at new textile show

Flame-red car, ruby slippers, scarlet letter, rosy lips — when the choice is red, there’s always a reason. No wallflower, red’s connotations span passion, heat, alarm, victory, health and life itself. Various cultures have embraced red as protection against evil, a portent of good luck and a charm for fertility.

Before synthetic dyes transformed textile-making in the latter half of the 19th century, red cloth was a luxury available only to the rich. While readying to open RED at the Textile Museum, curator Rebecca Stevens explained why.