Traditionally made and worn by Palestinians in rural areas, embroidery is now common in all of Palestine and among members of the diaspora as well. Once practiced in rural areas, it is now common throughout the country.
Generally, women’s village clothing consists of a long dress, trousers, a jacket, a headdress, and a veil. Each of these garments is embroidered with various symbols, including birds, trees, and flowers. The colour choices and patterns indicate the regional identity of the woman and her marital and economic status.
Embroidery has played a major role in the creation of traditional clothing for centuries in the Palestinian tradition. Tatreez (cross-stitch embroidery) and tahriri (couched-stitch embroidery) are the two main forms of embroidery.
Palestinian embroidery and costumes were characterized by a wide array of motifs due to the country's long history and its location on the international trade route. It was common for village women to embroider in local styles during the Ottoman era when embroidery was most prominent in the Upper and Lower Galilee, Judean Hills, and the Mediterranean coast.
The practice of embroidery is a social activity, as women from each other's communities gather in each other's homes to practice embroidery and sewing, often with their daughters. They are trained by their mothers and take formal courses to further their practice.
Embroidered panels run down the body of the loose-fitting dress, known as the thob. Embroidered, vertical panels run down the waist. Silk thread is used in embroidery, which is sewn onto cotton, wool, or linen. The woman's regional identity and marital and economic status are reflected in the colors and designs of the garment.
It has also evolved into a symbolic form of resistance in Palestinian culture and plays an important role in economic life as well. Palestinian people all over the world have been united by the inscription of their embroidery. Pictures of the women have been widely shared on social media, creating a new trend.
In cities like Amman and Ramallah today, mass-produced fabrics and ready-made dresses, both machine-embroidered in the ever-popular cross-stitch, are available at retail establishments at prices that are accessible to a new generation of Palestinian women.
The inscription also has raised the visibility of Palestinian embroidery on a regional and global scale. Palestinian embroidery was already inspiring many international fashion designers around the world.