Osaka Kansai Expo holds Palestinian fashion show

Asahi Shimbun

3 days ago

Bedouin's dress with burqa is showcased at the expo venue in Osaka's Konohana Ward on June 1. (Yoshiko Sato)
OSAKA—The Osaka Kansai Expo held a Palestinian fashion show here on June 1, showcasing the culture's stunning traditional garments alongside bold fusions of Japanese and Palestinian styles.
Since countries participating in the expo are each granted a special day, known as a 'National Day,' to present their culture and history at the world's fair, the fashion show was part of the Palestine's National Day exhibition.
The show's emcee made an appeal to the audience, which stretched outside the venue, saying, 'We must continue talking about Palestine. We cannot remain silent.'
A black dress with red geometric embroidery and a hemp dress embroidered with a floral pattern were showcased at the event.
Nine of the dresses in the show had been collected by the late mother of Waleed Siam, the representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine to Japan.
They were made before 1948, the year the modern state of Israel was founded, which forced many Palestinians to become refugees.
Alongside these traditional garments, the show featured Japanese kimono and obi embroidered with traditional Palestinian designs by Palestinian women.
WITNESSING THE CONFLICT
Maki Yamamoto, who emceed the fashion show, began incorporating Palestinian embroidery onto obi about 10 years ago, hoping to help keep Palestinian embroidery alive. All the embroidery is the handwork of Palestinian women.
Yamamoto visited Palestine for the first time in 2013. She joined a local tour that her friend Siam recommended.
During the tour, she visited a village in the West Bank where protests against the Israeli occupation and settlement were taking place.
After young people in village threw stones at Israeli military forces, the military retaliated by firing tear gas from a tank.
Yamamoto also inhaled the tear gas and fled into a nearby bus. That was her first taste of the reality of occupation, which she had only previously seen in news reports.
She also became familiar with the local culture and daily life during her visit, getting to know the peaceful farm villages, their residents and traditional foods.
The tour also stopped by traditional embroidery stores. Each region had unique patterns, often featuring local plants and animals.
Yamamoto was inspired by the beauty of the culture, a heritage passed down through generations.
'I want people to know that Palestinians have daily lives and culture, including such beautiful embroidery, instead of just focusing on the conflicts,' Yamamoto said.
Then, she hit upon the idea of incorporating Palestinian embroidery into obi, as she often wore kimono in her daily life.
She commissioned women from refugee camps and rural villages in the West Bank and Gaza to embroider them, and sells them at monthly exhibitions, mainly in Tokyo.
The sales of the obi now provide a source of income for the women and help them to become independent.
'The women sew every stitch to create these beautiful crafts despite the harsh conditions in the refugee camps. It is an incredible joy to show these products to Japanese,' Yamamoto said.
NOT JUST PITY, RESPECT
However, the conflict that erupted between the Israeli military and the Islamic organization Hamas in October 2023 has had a massive impact on embroidery production.
With limited materials entering Gaza and the women's lives at risk, Yamamoto is unable to place orders for new obi.
In the West Bank region, the Israeli military has tightened restrictions on movement, preventing women from reaching their workshops and procuring fabric, yarn and other materials.
Toward the end of the fashion show, two cushion covers featuring geometric designs were displayed. They had been crafted by women in Gaza amid the Israeli military's attacks.
Even in the shelters where they've taken refuge, the women continue to embroider, focusing on their work to keep their minds calm.
'The embroidery is not just fashion, but their identity. It gives people the will to live,' Yamamoto told the audience.
Yamamoto thinks that people are paying more attention to Palestine than ever before, since the conflict started more than a year and a half ago.
'I believe respecting their long-standing culture would encourage Palestinians more than simply feeling sorry for them,' she said.