Tatreez Talk

AMANI ALBAHRI IS THE FOUNDER OF TANTURA AND A THOBE COLLECTOR WHOSE WORK CENTERS PALESTINIAN MEMORY AND MATERIAL CULTURE (@TANTURA.CO). Through stories of her family and her collection, Amani offers a powerful reminder that thobes are not just garments—they are vessels of story, survival, and identity. Her reflections sparked deep conversations about what it means to embed yourself in a thobe, not just understand what was embedded ...

TALA IS A CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR GOOD RAIN PUBLISHING, AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN OWNED CHILDREN'S PUBLISHER (@tala.loves.books; @goodrainpublishing). She shares her family’s roots in Umm al-Fahm and how her identity as a Palestinian in the U.S. shaped her storytelling.

Tala’s work centers Palestinian narratives often missing from children’s literature. She highlights the power of stories as tools ...

FARAH IS A TATREEZ ARTIST, CRAFTER, POET, AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER (@artcoloredglasses). Farah shares her family roots in the village of Kur near Tulkarem, and speaks about the generational trauma caused by the 1948 Nakba, which split her family across borders. Though her great aunts were seamstresses, Farah grew up cut off from the tradition of embroidery. She shares how this generational rupture shaped her longing for cultural connec...

IN THIS EPISODE, WE’RE JOINED BY SISTERS JENNIFER AND CHRISTINE, WHO JOINED US THE TATREEZ RETREAT 2024 IN YOSEMITE. CHRISTINE IS AN AMATEUR TATREEZER, SPORTS ENTHUSIAST, AND ASPIRING CASUAL CRAFTER. JENNIFER IS AN AMATEUR TATREEZER TOO, AND AN AVID COOK AND HOMEMAKER (@__nif__). The conversation brings out so much joy in finding tatreez sisterhood and their relationship as sisters has fueled their shared creative pursuits.

For both...

RAZAN IS A DIASPORIC PALESTINIAN RESEARCHER, COMMUNITY WORKER AND TATREEZ FACILITATOR BASED OUT OF TORONTO (@STITCHINGLIBERATION). Razan introduces her work, which is rooted in Indigenous and Palestinian feminist methodologies to consider the relationships, material cultures, and joint resistances between Palestinian and Indigenous communities engaging in collective world building on Turtle Island.

Razan reflects on how tatreez serv...

EMAN IS THE FOUNDER OF THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT TATREEZ THERAPY (@EMAN_MSM; @TATREEZ_THERAPY). In this episode, Eman opens up about her family roots in Yaffa and Ne’lin, and how those places, now shaped by occupation and displacement, live on in her through tatreez.

Eman speaks about the joy and experimentation that fuel her approach to tatreez—remixing motifs, embracing imperfections, and treating the art form as a dynamic space for s...

SARA IS THE FOUNDER OF DEERAH; A SMALL TATREEZ DESIGN HOUSE THAT SHEDS LIGHT ON THE ART OF PALESTINIAN EMBROIDERY AND CHALLENGING DEEP-SEATED PREJUDICES AGAINST PALESTINIAN CULTURE (@DEERAHCO).

In this episode, we dive into one of the most asked topics: how to properly wear and care for your tatreez—whether it’s something you embroidered yourself or a piece you’ve purchased and cherish.

With Sara’s expertise in crafting high-quality ...

We’re back with Season 4 of Tatreez Talk! In this episode, we catch you up on what we’ve been up to—from Amanne’s workshops with the San Francisco Public Library during SWANA and Arab American Heritage Month, to Lina’s recent trip to Japan and her exploration of sustainability through thrifting and reimagining how we can bring new life to what’s already in our closets. We reflect on how tatreez continues to be a tool for storytelli...

WE WELCOME BACK TWO RETURNING GUESTS—BAYAN FARES OF BADAN COLLECTIVE (@badancollective) AND EMAN TOOM OF HINT OF TATREEZ (@hintoftatreez)—FOR A POWERFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT CULTURAL PRESERVATION, APPROPRIATION, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH TEACHING PALESTINIAN EMBROIDERY. The discussion kicks off with personal stories: how both Bayan and Eman came to teach tatreez, and what it means to them in the context of identity, dia...

DANA IS A TATREEZ ARTIST, ALSO KNOWN ONLINE AS TATREEZ WITH DANDUNA (@tatreez.with.danduna). In this episode of Tatreez Talk, we sit down for an honest and moving conversation about how tatreez became an unexpected yet deeply powerful part of Dana’s life. She shares how her Palestinian roots shaped her identity, and how the events of 2021 and the ongoing genocide since October 7th catalyzed a shift in her activism and creative expr...

NATALIE TAHHAN, A FASHION DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR AND INSTRUCTOR AT BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY (@natalietahhanofficial/@ntstudi0). Natalie shares her unique life journey, growing up in Doha after being born in Jerusalem, and the deep-rooted pull that eventually led her to return to Palestine. 

She opens up about the difficult decision to return in 2015 to protect her Jerusalem ID, facing financial and legal challenges to preserve her connecti...

ZEINA IS A JEWELRY DESIGNER AND FOUNDER OF ASHERAH JEWELLERY, DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING, PRESERVING, AND RAISING AWARENESS OF PALESTINIAN TATREEZ THROUGH HANDMADE BEADED JEWELRY (@ asherahjewelleryuk). Together, we hear about her journey as a half-Palestinian, half-Iraqi artist, growing up in a culturally rich household that shaped her creative identity. 

From her family roots in Ramleh to the deep influence of her mother’s pride in ...

ANA IS A PALESTINIAN COLOMBIAN MUSICIAN, STUDENT, TATREEZ ARTIST AND TEACHER (@verde_a_zaytouna). In this episode, she shares how tatreez became a profound act of self-discovery, storytelling, and connection—to Palestine, Palestinians, and even her own family. More than just embroidery—it became a form of reclaiming history, understanding geography, and strengthening ties to the broader Palestinian community.

Ana also reveals how he...

This bonus episode comes from a place of urgency: A new Kickstarter campaign is exploiting Palestinian embroidery under the guise of collaboration. This isn’t just about tatreez—it’s about cultural appropriation and the systemic barriers Palestinian artisans face while others profit from our heritage.

Joining us are:

• Bisan Alhajhasan – Lawyer & founder of Thobnah, a platform that shows Palestine through our thobes.
• Salma Shawa...

FATIMA IS A TATREEZ ARTIST, CREATOR, ACTIVIST, AND ANOTHER FRIEND FROM LAST YEAR’S TATREEZ RETREAT (@olives_and_cedar). In this episode, she introduces us to the term “Soul Ties” and the deep meaning behind it—something that couldn’t resonate more.

For those of us in the diaspora, staying connected to our identity and to Palestine is essential. Fatima offers a powerful way to do so through “Soul Ties,” and spoiler alert, Fatima has ...

The wait is over! We’re thrilled to officially announce the details of the next annual THE Tatreez Retreat – a gathering designed to create an opportunity for tatreez artists to meet and stitch like never before. 🌿✨

You’ll hear about:

>> Where and when the retreat will take place

>> What to expect – workshops, cultural experiences, and meaningful connections

>> Why this is the ultimate opportunity to deepen your tatr...

HALIMA IS THE ARTIST AND DESIGNER BEHIND THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @PALESTINIANARTIST. Halima shares her journey into art, how she uses embroidery and other mediums to tell Palestinian stories, and the deep cultural significance of her work.

The conversation delves into the role of art in preserving Palestinian heritage, Halima’s experiences exhibiting her pieces in museums, and the tatreez workshops she’s been leading across Germany. S...

PAM IS A PALESTINIAN CERAMIC TATREEZ ARTIST AND ACTIVIST (@totahstudio). Pam shares how tatreez connects her to Palestinian heritage, preserving stories and fostering community, especially in the diaspora. She reflects on the joys and challenges of learning tatreez, from selecting patterns to its meditative nature.

The conversation explores tatreez in modern contexts, from fashion to activism, and its resilience in preserving identi...

SAMAR IS A PALESTINIAN ORGANIZER AND NEW FRIEND WE MADE DURING THE 2024 TATREEZ RETREAT (@s.amooraa; @tatreez.w.samoor). Despite growing up with embroidered pieces at home, she found a deeper connection to her culture through stitching with her mother and sister.

She discusses how tatreez has become central to her community organizing, especially since October 7, 2023. In Philadelphia, local tatreez circles have become spaces for Pa...