What Is Tatreez? A Guide to Palestinian Embroidery

Tatreez (تطريز) is traditional Palestinian hand embroidery. It is worked mostly in cross-stitch with cotton or silk thread, and for generations it has been passed from mother to daughter. In 2021, UNESCO added the art of embroidery in Palestine to its list of the world's intangible cultural heritage.

Where does tatreez come from?

Palestinian women have embroidered their clothing for centuries. The best-known canvas is the thobe, a long dress whose chest panel, sleeves and side panels are covered in stitching. Traditionally, a thobe could tell you where a woman came from, because villages and cities had their own colours, motifs and layouts. Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron (Al Khalil), Gaza and Jaffa all have recognisable styles.

What do tatreez motifs mean?

Many motifs come from the land and daily life. Common examples include the cypress tree, the eight-pointed star, flowers and roses, birds and geometric borders. Today, artisans also stitch modern symbols of identity, such as the map of Palestine, the watermelon, olive branches and Handala.

How is tatreez made?

Each motif is counted and stitched by hand, one cross at a time. A single chest panel can take days or weeks, and a fully embroidered thobe or abaya can take months. That time is why authentic hand-embroidered pieces cost more than machine-made copies.

How can you tell handmade tatreez from machine embroidery?

Look at the back. Hand embroidery shows small knots, thread changes and tiny irregularities, while machine embroidery is perfectly uniform and often backed with a stiff stabiliser. You can read more in our guide to telling handmade from machine tatreez.

Tatreez today

Tatreez is worn at weddings, henna nights, Eid and Ramadan, and increasingly in everyday fashion such as hoodies, t-shirts, denim jackets and bags. Wearing it is a way of keeping Palestinian heritage alive.

Where to buy handmade tatreez

At Tatreez Banatna, every piece is 100% handmade by more than 80 women artisans in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. We are based in Mississauga, Canada, and ship to Canada, the United States, the Gulf and beyond. Browse the collection.