Palestinian Thob

Palestine’s history as a cradle of three religions and position as connection between three continents both contribute to multiple and diverse influences on the local costumes. These influences are less obvious in male costumes which tend to be uniform and more so in female costumes and their decorating motifs.

Palestinian dresses can be divided into three groups. The townspeople which reflected outside influences from Aleppo and Damascus to Europe. The villagers which were the traditional Thobs with their A-line shape, ample proportions, triangular sleeves and square shaped chest piece. These dresses can be easily attributed to specific villages by their embroidered designs. Lastly the Bedouins which were nomads, and their designs reflected tribal origin and not their locality.

This Thob is of urban origins as it is made of silk, an expensive fabric unavailable to the poor villagers. The prominence of couched embroidery points to Bethlehem origin where the couching technique was perfected. The long stripes of alternating crimson red and dark forest green are joined with a beautiful and precise zig zag edging stitch of three alternating colors. The chest square, or the Qubbeh is comprised of concentric squares of different colors that are appliquéd together and embroidered with rosettes amid meandering vines.