The Tulkarm Collection
An evolving and evergreen collection reviving and reimagining the Tulkarm style in a modern, diasporic context.
Historically, the women of Tulkarm and its surrounding villages wore clothing that was practical and easily adaptable to everything from household and farming tasks to special occasions, like weddings. Their clothing was adorned with minimal embroidery (if any at all) in cheerfully bright colors - markedly different from other regions of Palestine, but not uncommon in the surrounding northern districts.
My great grandfather, Mohammad-Majed, beloved by all. A skilled farmer and beekeeper, he moved out of the family village of Kur to live in the city of Tulkarm. He tended to his land in Qalansaweh (occupied in 1948) even after the Nakba, at great risk to himself, until it eventually became untenable.
The view from my family's village of Kur, southeast of the city of Tulkarm. Taken in 2008 during my first trip to Palestine.
An aerial photo and map of Tulkarm just before the Nakba, produced under the British mandate.
Inside a historic home in my family's village of Kur, southeast of the city of Tulkarm. Some of these historic buildings, dating back hundreds of years, have been renovated thanks to external funding and family efforts at preservation. Others sit, near to ruin. Taken in 2008 during my first trip to Palestine.
In addition to the fallahi (cross) stitch, women in the villages of Tulkarm wore dresses ornamented with lace trim - in the style of neighboring Jenin - or red and green appliqué - in the style of neighboring Nablus.
Upcycled Clothing
Until recent years, documentation of the historical dress of women in the Muthallath (triangle) region - Tulkarm, Jenin, and Nablus - has been virtually non-existant. This evolving and evergreen collection is simultaneously a research project, a revival, and a reimagining of the Tulkarm style in a modern, diasporic context.
Tatreez Supplies
Pieces in this collection are intended for everyday use and feature:
❖ motifs and stitching techniques seen in images of taditional dresses from Tulkarm
the results of an ongoing research process looking at the underrepresented embroidery traditions from the North of Palestine, which I am documenting on my website and Substack;
⚘ naturally hand-dyed and commercially-dyed silk and cotton threads and fabric
a revival of tatreez as it was once practiced before European colonization deliberately and ruthlessly devastated local interdependent economies and indigenous craftsmanship in Palestine, Greater Syria, Egypt, and much of the world;
♻ thrifted and repurposed clothing and materials
an ode to the Palestinian tradition of wasting nothing in an era of fast fashion, unethical mass production, unchecked consumerism, and unprecedented industrial and consumer waste.
Art & Greeting Cards
We, the women of Tulkarm, were too busy working in the fields and tending to our homes to waste time filling our clothes with useless embroidery. We had fruit to pick! Vegetables to harvest! Food to prepare! Clothing to wash! Floors to sweep! Chickens to pluck! Bread to bake! Children to raise!
Shop the Tulkarm Collection
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Zaatar Mana'eesh Handmade Magnetic Needle Minder -
Knafeh Handmade Magnetic Needle Minder -
Upcycled Pink Tulkarm Tatreez Shirt -
Upcycled Sharqawi Denim Jacket -
Tatreez Saying - Intermediate Tatreez Kit -
Hand-Sewn Biscornu Tatreez Pincushion - Naturally-Dyed -
Hand-Sewn Rectangular Tatreez Pincushion - Naturally-Dyed -
Block Printed & Naturally-Dyed Tulkarm Tea Towel -
Mini Naturally-Dyed Yellow Tatreez Tote Bag -
Mini Naturally-Dyed Purple Tatreez Tote Bag -
Naturally-Dyed Tatreez Tote Bag -
Naturally-Dyed Ombre Tote Bag -
Tulkarm Flowers Tatreez Greeting Cards -
Arabic Coffee Greeting Cards - Set of 3 -
Tulkarm Border Tatreez Block Print -
Tulkarm Qabbeh Tatreez Block Print -
Tulkarm Elbas Tatreez Block Print -
Nablus/Tulkarm Sharqawi Thobe Handmade Magnetic Needle Minder -
Tulkarm Thread Set -
Tulkarm Sampler - Paper Tatreez Pattern -
Tulkarm Sampler - Digital Tatreez Pattern -
Tulkarm Mraddan Thobe Handmade Magnetic Needle Minder -
Tulkarm & Jenin Palestinian Peg Dolls -
Tatreez Saying - Paper Tatreez Pattern
Works in Progress
The Tulkarm Collection is an evergreen collection, meaning I will continue to create and upcycle new pieces and add them to this page. This is not fast fashion, so pieces will not be added according to a seasonal cycle, but, simply, as they are ready. Below is a sneak peak of what I'm currently working on. Check back monthly or quarterly for new items!
From the Blog
The Tulkarm Collection goes beyond a collection of art and handmade goods. It started as a research project and exploration of my heritage as a Palestinian in diaspora with roots in Tulkarm. Over time, I will continue to document motifs and information about the tatreez and clothing traditions of Tulkarm and share them with you here.
