**Exhibition Celebrating Palestinian Dress and Embroidery Opens at V&A Dundee**
A remarkable new exhibition focusing on the rich textile heritage of Palestine has opened its doors at the V&A Dundee, offering visitors a unique insight into the artistry and history of Palestinian traditional dress. This significant event, titled *Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine*, arrives as Dundee recognises 45 years of its twinning relationship with Nablus, a city in the West Bank.
The exhibition brings together more than 30 intricate historical dresses, alongside veils, headpieces, jewellery, and a range of archival photographs. Each item on display serves as a testament to the enduring craft of “tatreez”—an ancient form of elaborate hand-embroidery that has long been woven into the fabric of Palestinian identity.
Curated with both academic rigour and creative flair, the exhibition explores how tatreez embroidery not only embodies a highly skilled craft but has also grown into a powerful symbol of national identity, resistance, and solidarity throughout the years. Visitors are provided with an in-depth look at how the motifs, techniques, and materials used in Palestinian women’s clothing offer clues about the wearer’s origins, social status, and cultural background.
Leonie Bell, director of the V&A Dundee, highlighted the importance of the exhibition, stating that it, “reaches across continents and generations, examining how the distinctive regional styles and traditions of Palestinian dress tell crucial stories of women’s lives, experiences, and aspirations.” She emphasised the cultural collaboration and the vital narratives underpinning each garment, stressing how these pieces serve as links to both history and contemporary creativity.
One of the exhibition’s standout features is the inclusion of a number of exceptional historical dresses from Gaza villages, some of which have particularly poignant stories attached. Among them is a dress that survived the bombing of the Rafah Museum in 2023, symbolising both resilience and the ongoing challenges faced by cultural practitioners in Palestine.
Also on display is the elegant thobe worn by Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla during her husband Humza Yousaf’s swearing-in ceremony as Scotland’s First Minister. Cllr El-Nakla expressed her enthusiasm for the exhibition, noting, “Palestinian fashion and dress are vital expressions of who we are and the lives we aspire to lead in peace and dignity.” She added her hope that seeing these garments in Dundee would serve to amplify messages of solidarity, hope, and peaceful resistance, particularly during moments of hardship in the region.
The exhibition is the result of a collaborative effort with the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, West Bank, as well as partners Art Jameel and the V&A itself. Drawing on local expertise and collections, the show offers an authentic and deeply informed perspective on the craft of Palestinian dressmaking.
Visitors are also encouraged to reflect on the 45-year relationship between Dundee and Nablus—one that has seen cultural and educational exchanges flourish despite complex geopolitical realities. The exhibition stands as both a celebration of this partnership and a recognition of the enduring strength of Palestinian creativity, both within the region and among diaspora communities in Scotland and the wider UK.
*Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine* is free to the public and is set to run at V&A Dundee until spring 2026. The organisers hope that it will not only educate visitors about the technical and artistic brilliance of Palestinian artisans but also inspire a deeper understanding of the role art and design play in advocating for peace and human dignity.
The V&A Dundee encourages anyone interested in textile artistry, cultural history, or stories of resilience and identity to experience the exhibition during its tenure. Through every delicate stitch and motif, the tales of Palestinian women—past and present—are shared, inviting dialogue, empathy, and appreciation.