Tatreez: a Palestinian embroidery tradition

A Palestinian refugee woman cross-stitching tatreez, Gaza, 1967. © UNRWA Photo Archives

Tatreez is a form of traditional Palestinian embroidery, originating from rural areas of Palestine but now commonly seen and made in the wider Palestinian diaspora.

The practice of tatreez originated in Palestine over 3,000 years ago […] Motifs were area-specific, as well as symbolic of important events, such as a wedding or pregnancy. Colors utilized would also symbolize different stages of life; in Hebron (a city now in the West Bank), for example, green was primarily worn by young women whereas purple indicated a woman who was farther along in age. Furthermore, different shades of colors denoted regional differences, where for example the city of Ramallah primarily used a pure and bright shade of red where the area of Khalil instead stitched with a brownish red color.

This is Artful Resistance: The Power of Tatreez – Erin Quinn

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