Tatreez: Palestinian Embroidery

Tatreez is the Arabic word for the elaborate hand embroidery found on Palestinian dress. Renowned for its beauty and complexity, tatreez is characterised by remarkable regional diversity. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, every area of Palestine was known for particular embroidery techniques, stitches and motifs. The clothing a woman made for herself reflected her identity and her origins, as well as the changing nature of her life. This display brings together examples of historic Palestinian dress from the V&A collection — representing the regions of Ramallah, Bethlehem and the Southern Coast — alongside contemporary embroidered work by fashion designer Zeid Hijazi and artist Aya Haidar. A short film has been made to accompany the display. Watch to learn more about the tatreez in the V&A collection: Tatreez: The Ancient Art of Palestinian Embroidery | Fashion Unpicked