Virtual Lecture: The Timeless Thobe – Documenting Land, Heritage & Culture in Palestinian Dress

Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Location: Online, Zoom link will be emailed 24 hours prior to event
Instructor: Wafa Ghnaim, Dress Historian, Researcher & Educator
Registration Fee: Sliding scale

The thobe, a traditional hand embroidered dress made and worn by Palestinian women for centuries, is the bedrock of Palestinian identity through heritage, culture and land. For millennia, women in the eastern Mediterranean have showcased their skillful stitchery on their traditional dress, displaying unique motifs, colors and styles across the various villages of old Palestine.

After 1948, over 750,000 Palestinians were forced into exile, carrying their dressmaking and embroidery traditions with them into refugee camps and around the world. As the diaspora spread across the globe, the largest and longest-standing population of displaced people in the world, the thobe evolved into a symbol of national and cultural identity beyond borders.

In this live virtual lecture, dress historian, researcher, and educator Wafa Ghnaim will explore the evolution of the thobe and the visual language of tatreez (embroidery) as used on traditional Palestinian dress. From village styles to diasporic adaptations, this talk offers a compelling look at how dress documents the intertwined threads of history, memory, and identity.

What You’ll Receive:

• Live access to the 2-hour lecture
• A recording for 7 days after the live session

Important Notes:

• Tickets are nonrefundable.
• This is a live, virtual event hosted via Zoom.
• Registration closes at 10:00 AM EST on May 24, 2025.
• A Zoom link will be sent via email the day before the event.
• The instructor reserves the right to review and decline registrations at her discretion to ensure a respectful and safe learning environment for all participants.
• Space is limited to ensure an intimate and interactive experience.
• Sharing your camera is required.