This dress embodies the beauty of Palestinian heritage through its design inspired by the traditional Gazan dress. The bodice is adorned with a cypress motif featuring intricate geometric patterns.

Embroidery

Khadija Aruri

The first time used a needle and thread to embroider a piece was when she was in school. Since then, her passion for sewing and embroidery has never waned. She made it her livelihood, supporting herself and her mother before her mother passed away. For over 35 years, Khusaib has been embroidering everything she desires. Her passion for embroidery and sewing extends beyond creating dresses to encompass any traditional craft she encounters. To this day, she continues to develop her skills and create innovative designs for traditional clothing and dresses that reflect Palestinian identity. In an interview with Al-Gharraf, Khadija explained that she began learning embroidery and sewing from her schoolmates. Later, she relied on her own efforts to develop her skills in this profession, which she found her calling. Driven by her deep passion, she dedicates her free time to embroidering and creating her unique pieces. What Khusaib has learned over the years hasn't been kept to herself. She has been committed to teaching this craft to young women to preserve it and ensure its continuation. The heritage is enduring, and those she taught now work with her in this craft. She generously shared with them all that she had learned throughout her long years of experience, encouraging them to continue, preserve, and pass it on, as it represents the preservation of Palestinian identity and heritage. Al-Khasib maintains the ancient traditional method of embroidery, still relying on her hands to create the dresses and not using machines as is common in the markets. She explained that the additions now being made to dresses dilute their appearance, which has been familiar for generations. She described the traditional peasant dresses as remaining unchanged regardless of the passage of time and being passed down from generation to generation. She added that completing an embroidered piece requires considerable time, depending on its size.

Traditional