This selected collection comprises a hundred traditional dresses and an equal number of headdresses, jewelry and other accessories. These items are representative of the different geographic regions in Palestine such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, Hebron, Bir al Sabe' etc… illustrating a high degree artistry, skill and imagination.

Thob Janneh wa Nar
Thob Janneh wa Nar, with triangular sleeves mraddan. Made of striped cotton fabric from Tobas region, the only decoration is a simple embroidery is on the side panels banayeq . It is characterized by the colored fabric and patchwork.

Ghabani Thob
Ghabani Thob- A traditional dress from Lifta village in the Jerusalem district. It is worn on special occasions. The silk fabric is embroidered in an overall floral pattern in golden thread (Algahabani) while the chest panel is embroidered in the Bethlehem Malak dress patterns.

Thob Dajani
Thob Dajani, white rumi fabric, from Beit Dajan, Jaffa region. It is worn at weddings and is characterized by the pearl (lo’lo’) motif on the sleeves and chest panel, embroidered in the coaching stich.

Burqo’
Burqo’ a women’s face cover worn by bedoiun women from Bir al Sabe’. It has silver coins, chains and shells.

Iraqiyyeh
Iraqiyyeh, women’s headdress from al Dhahriah region –south of Hebron. The coins attached on the cap are part of the mahr a girl’s dowry. The iraqiyyeh has two densely embroidered bands which the woman braids with her hair when wearing the headdress.

Wqayet al Darahim
Wqayet al Darahim- bride’s headdress-part of her dowry, from villages south of Hebron.

Shatweh
Shatweh-traditional bride’s headdress from Bethlehem.It is an important accessory that goes with the bride’s dress (Thob al Malak).

Thob al Malak
Thob al Malak,A special Bethlehem wedding dress, made of striped velvet and embroidered in the coaching stitch. The motifs include al quwwar (the flower pot) on the chest panel while the clock motif(al sa’ah) adorns the side and bottom back panels.

Thob al Jallayeh
Thob al Jallayeh, from Beit Dajan –Jaffa region. This dress is worn on special occasions specially weddings. It is characterized by a front opening stretching from the waist downwards, its short sleeves and the dense embroidery which covers all parts of the dress. The embroidery motifs are cypress and amulet designs. Silk hirmzi fabric is used for patching.

Thob Mraddan
Thob Mraddan, traditional dress from the Bir al Sabe’ region, characterized by its heavy and colorful embroidery with a variety of motifs specially the fan (al murwaha) motif in the front panel and kheimet al basha (the pasha’s tent) motif on the bottom back panel and side panels of the dress.

Thob-dress
Thob, traditional dress from Gaza and al Majdal. Using the typical al Majdal striped fabric this dress has little embroidery with the hjab(amulet)pattern.

Thob Rumi
Thob Rumi, black linen dress from Ramallah, worn on special occasions. The qabbeh (chest panel)has the typical triangular arch design (qos), while floral patterns are in vertical lines in the front part of the dress.

Images and text coutesy of Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine.

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