Explore the history of Palestinian dress and the ancient practice of elaborate hand-embroidery

Tatreez is an ancient practice of elaborate hand-embroidery, and each region of Palestine has its own distinct and identifiable style making embroidery a language as much as a craft. For centuries, a Palestinian woman’s dress – its cut, colour, textiles, stitches and motifs – reflected her life story. Written into garments are the signs of youth or grief, the marks of motherhood and rural life, as well as the traces of social, political and economic change in Palestine, from the late nineteenth century to the present.

2025 marks 45 years of Dundee’s twin city relationship with Nablus, Palestine and this exhibition takes the opportunity to spotlight Nabulsi dress and tell the story of the historic connection between Scotland and Palestine, through material from Dundee collections and Palestinian archives.

Thread Memory also features contemporary embroidered dress, including newly commissioned looks from Palestinian fashion designers building upon inherited cultural traditions. Work by contemporary artists engaging with tatreez will sit next to the traditional dress on display, alongside interviews with Palestinian embroiderers.

Curated by V&A’s Jameel Curator of Contemporary Art from the Middle East, Rachel Dedman, Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine is made in partnership with Hayy Jameel and the Palestinian Museum. It is based on an exhibition of the same title currently on show at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.