Description
“Palestinian embroidery, or Tatreez, is not just a craft that looks beautiful, there is so much history behind it.” - Dina Asfour, founder of Tatreez Collective
Three Palestinian thobes (traditional dresses) were donated to the Oxfam Oxford Superstore - each carrying its own story of Palestinian culture, identity and history. One of the thobes is believed to date from before the Nakba, while two are thought to be from the 1960s-70s.
In this video, Dina explores the donated thobes and the stories held within their embroidery - from motifs inspired by fauna, birds and the Palestinian landscape to patterns that can tell us about place, community and identity.
“The thobe can almost be seen as a historical document. It was very much used as a language to talk about the person, their identity, but also Tatreez has been a symbol of resistance.”
Preserving Tatreez is about keeping these stories alive and recognising the creativity, celebration and joy held within Palestinian culture.
Oxfam hopes the three thobes will eventually be placed with a Palestinian-led cultural heritage collection or museum, with decisions about their future stewardship led by recognised Palestinian heritage experts and institutions.
Discover the story of the thobes and learn more about Tatreez - a living archive of Palestine.
Read more on the Oxfam blog: Tatreez: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/tatreez-palestine-living-archive/
Discover the stories behind three Palestinian thobes (dresses) donated to Oxfam and explore how tatreez preserves Palestinian culture, identity and resilience.