This video is made to coincide with the exhibition Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine at V&A Dundee which runs until Spring 2026, and the Tatreez: Palestinian Embroidery display at V&A South Kensington until May 2026, curated by Jameel Curator Rachel Dedman. The exhibition and display are free to visit.
The ancient practice of hand-embroidery – called tatreez in Arabic – is a craft dating back centuries. Join Rachel as she unpacks six incredible examples of historic Palestinian dress, from a silk patchwork jellayeh (coat-dress), to a taqsireh jacket made for a wedding ceremony, and a shatweh headdress laden with coins. Exploring the significance of colour, cut, motif and stitch, Rachel reveals how each garment has its own distinct regional style. Embroidery in Palestine is a language as much as a craft, so these unique textiles reflect the life stories of the women who made and wore them.
You can see the Galilean jellayeh, Bedouin dress and Bethlehem thobe on display at V&A Dundee in our Thread Memory exhibition, which is made in partnership with Art Jameel and the Palestinian Museum.
Visit the Jameel Gallery at V&A South Kensington to see the taqsireh jacket, shatweh headdress, and Southern Coast jellayeh alongside two contemporary works of tatreez.
