The Dress of Dreams, 2016
Gothenburg and ManilaOne Life Dreams collected photographs of children and their dreams from around the world and printed them on a gown, which Miss Sweden 2016 Ida Ovmar wore as Sweden’s national costume at Miss Universe.
- photographs and stories of children’s dreams
- 53
- exhibition at Göteborgs Kulturkalas
- Aug 2016
- worn at Miss Universe in Manila
- Jan 2017
- people reached by the broadcast, by the project’s count
- 1 bn
The idea started with Pippi Longstocking
One Life Dreams was a voluntary art project for children, started in Gothenburg by Daniel Nilsson and the designer Aviad Arik Herman. The founders took their inspiration from Pippi Longstocking, the strongest girl in the world.
The tagline was “Make impossible real”.
Photographers answered from around the world
In 2016 the project released a film that invited volunteer photographers to photograph children and their dreams. The first submission came from Pakistan: children getting extra help with their studies from the photographer’s wife.
In all, 53 photographs and stories arrived. The dreams ran from flying, or being Beyoncé, to children who said they had no dream at all.
Aviad Arik Herman designed the gown
He printed all 53 photographs on it, so every child who took part is on the dress. Majornas Grafiska printed the textile.
First shown in Gothenburg
In August 2016 the dress went on show at Göteborgs Kulturkalas, with the 53 photographs and the children’s stories beside it. The project was made with Göteborgs Kulturkalas and received the blessing of Queen Silvia of Sweden.
Ida Ovmar wore it at Miss Universe
On 26 January 2017 she wore the Dress of Dreams as Sweden’s national costume, in the national costume and preliminary competition at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. By the project’s count, the broadcast reached over 1 billion people.
The most outlandish costumes so far.
Us Weekly’s Stylish ranked it number 3 of the 15 most elaborate national costumes of the pageant.
Questions about the dress
How many photographs are on the Dress of Dreams?
53. Volunteer photographers around the world sent them in 2016, each showing a child and their dream. The first came from Pakistan.
Who made the Dress of Dreams?
Aviad Arik Herman designed the gown. Majornas Grafiska printed the textile and Lennart Sjöberg took the studio photographs of the finished dress.
Who wore the Dress of Dreams at Miss Universe?
Miss Sweden 2016 Ida Ovmar wore it as Sweden’s national costume in the national costume and preliminary competition at the Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, on 26 January 2017.
Where was the dress first shown?
At Göteborgs Kulturkalas, the Gothenburg Culture Festival, in August 2016, with the 53 photographs and the children’s stories displayed beside it.
Who inspired the Dress of Dreams?
Pippi Longstocking, the strongest girl in the world. The founders, Daniel Nilsson and Aviad Arik Herman, took her as their lead when they started One Life Dreams in Gothenburg, under the tagline “Make impossible real”.
What did the press say about the dress?
The Telegraph listed it among “the most outlandish costumes so far” at Miss Universe 2017. Us Weekly’s Stylish ranked it number 3 of the 15 most elaborate national costumes of the pageant.
