Exhibition of Palestinian dress and embroidery to open at V&A Dundee
The exhibition explores the ways tatreez – an ancient practice of elaborate hand-embroidery – has shaped and expressed Palestinian national identity since the late 19th century and evolved into a form of resistance and solidarity.
It also showcases the regional variations in dressmaking and embroidery across Palestine, with the cut, colour, textiles, stitches and motifs on Palestinian women's dress being both a highly skilled craft and a language which reveals who the wearer is and where they are from.
Leonie Bell, director of V&A Dundee, said: 'Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine is an exhibition that through research, collections and partnership explores the traditions and material culture of Palestinian dress and the vast range of regional styles that tell important stories about the lives of the women who made, adapted and wore these dresses, jewellery, head-dresses and accessories.
'The exhibition also explores the 45-year-old connection between Dundee and Nablus, a twinning relationship that has brought these two cities together, and it celebrates contemporary Palestinian design and creativity from Dundee, Scotland and across the UK.'
The exhibition includes 'spectacular' historical dresses from villages in Gaza – including one that was damaged in the bombing of the Rafah Museum in 2023.
It also features the dress worn by Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla at the swearing-in ceremony of her husband, former first minister Humza Yousaf.
Ms El-Nakla said she is 'delighted' to welcome the exhibition to V&A Dundee.
'Design and culture are peaceful and powerful forms of resistance and solidarity,' she said.
'Palestinian fashion and dress express ideas about who we have been, who we are and the lives we want to live in peace and with dignity.
'This exhibition is opening at a time of extreme pain and suffering. It's bringing design from Palestine to life and tells the stories of women's lives in Palestine.
'I am proud that my dress, or thobe, that I wore at the Scottish Parliament is there as an expression of my Scottish-Palestinian identity, and as a symbol of solidarity, hope and peace.'
The exhibition was developed in partnership with the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit in the West Bank, drawing on local expertise and objects from Palestine, as well as with Art Jameel and the V&A.
Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine is free and on show at V&A Dundee from Thursday until spring 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
28 minutes ago
- STV News
Scots schoolgirl's invention to help homeless lands spot on Time magazine 'Girls of the Year' list
A Scottish schoolgirl has been featured in Time magazine's first-ever Girls of the Year list after designing a solar-powered blanket designed to help the homeless. Back in January, Rebecca Young triumphed over 70,000 entrants to take home the MacRobert Commendation Medal in the UK Primary Engineer competition, following a public vote. Tasked with producing a design to address a social issue, the Kelvinside Academy S2 said she thought of the invention – a heated blanket integrated into a backpack and powered by solar panels – after witnessing people sleeping rough on the streets in Glasgow. Her innovation has now been recognised on a global scale, as she is now among ten girls from across the world selected by Time who have inspired and helped communities. She said that she was stunned by the recognition, which has also seen her turned into a LEGO mini-figure, as the awards are being run in partnership with the toy manufacturer. Supplied Rebecca has been turned into a LEGO mini-figure 'I was stunned when I found out. I can't believe I am one of the first Time Girls of the Year. It's simply incredible', she said. 'To be named alongside nine other girls who have achieved so much is one of the most special experiences of my life. 'In my wildest dreams I'd never imagined being in this position when I came up with the design. I'm most proud of how the idea is now helping homeless people in real life – which was my inspiration all along – and I hope this can help shine a brighter light on an issue we should all care deeply about.' Rebecca's mum Louise, 49, who runs an MOT centre in Hillington, Glasgow, with her husband James, said the whole family was 'over the moon' with her daughter's achievement. She said: 'The attention Rebecca has received since she won the Primary Engineer prize is unbelievable, and we're all so proud of her. She was just 11 when she designed the blanket, and already she's decided she wants to follow a different path – and we couldn't be more supportive. 'Even at just 13, she's already made such an impact, and we know she can do the same in whatever she goes on to achieve. The most important thing is she's happy – and following her passions is how she'll achieve that. ' Daniel Wyatt, rector at Kelvinside Academy, described the Time honour as 'a huge global achievement' not just for Rebecca, but for her school and Scotland as a whole. He said: 'She has done everybody proud. Rebecca is a shining example of how a caring young person can see a problem in the world and do something about it. To see her invention brought to life and helping people in the real world is something very special indeed. 'She is also a role model for any young person who wants to follow their own path in life. It'd be very easy to be pigeonholed as a budding engineer, but she also has other talents she wants to pursue. That's what Kelvinside is all about – providing opportunities and allowing our young people to carve out their own journey. Well done Rebecca, you have done yourself, your family and Kelvinside proud.' 'At Time, we've long believed that leadership has no age requirement. This belief is reflected in the inspiring young women named to our first-ever Time Girls of the Year list, who are shaping their communities with courage and purpose,' said Time CEO Jessica Sibley. 'Thanks to our partnership with the LEGO Group, we are proud to spotlight those who are turning imagination into real-world impact.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots school pupil, 12, named on Time magazine's first-ever Girls of the Year list
The 12-year-old has been named among nine other girls from across the globe GIRL POWER Scots school pupil, 12, named on Time magazine's first-ever Girls of the Year list Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTS school pupil has been named on the first-ever Girls of the Year list by Time magazine. Rebecca Young, 12, features on the prestigious list alongside nine other girls from around the world, who are all recognised as being young leaders inspiring communities. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Rebecca (bottom right) featured on the limited-edition Time cover as a Lego character Credit: PA The youngster, from Glasgow, has been hailed as an innovator after she designed a solar-powered backpack with an electric blanket inside to help homeless people. Rebecca was just 11 when she came up with the idea after becoming concerned about people sleeping on the streets during a freezing Scottish winter. And her design ended up winning an engineering award in a UK-wide competition with 70,000 participants. The Kelvinside Academy pupil and eight of the other girls are featured as part of a limited-edition animated Time cover. The girls have been reimagined as Lego characters, each aimed at capturing the spirit of their achievements. Rebecca described it as "cool and very unexpected" to be among those named. She added: "I'm honoured by the fact they wanted to include me on their Girls of the Year list and hope other kids see it and decide to do their part in helping people." Rebecca thought of making the solar-powered backpack after she was asked during a club at school to come up with an idea focused on helping people. But it wasn't just an idea, she researched different types of solar panels, wiring, and batteries, and drew up a detailed blueprint. After winning her engineering award, 30 blankets were manufactured by firm Thales. Tragic homeless crisis gripping UK city as rough sleepers fend off addicts The bags were then distributed to a homeless shelter in Glasgow earlier this year. There are plans to make 120 more, which has left mum Louise "very proud". Rebecca added: "It helped me see a different aspect of engineering, and how it could actually help people. "That definitely helped inspire me." Girls of the Year 2025 The 2025 Time Girls of the Year list features 10 honourees, including: Author Rutendo Shadaya, 17, of New Zealand Athlete Coco Yoshizawa, 15, of Japan Innovator Valerie Chiu, 15, of China Artist Zoé Clauzure, 15, of France Innovator Clara Proksch, 12, of Germany Athlete Ivanna Richards, 17, of Mexico Innovator Kornelia Wieczorek, 17, of Poland Adventurer Defne Özcan, 17, of Turkey Innovator Rebecca Young, 12, of United Kingdom Advocate Naomi S. DeBerry, 12, of the United States. Time magazine's collaboration with Lego followed a recent study by the Lego group of more than 32,000 parents and children across 21 countries. And it found 70 per cent of young women struggle to see themselves as someone who is good at building things. It also found that children were twice as likely to credit major inventions to men - with most believing that wifi (69 per cent) and the Moon landing software (68 per cent) were invented by men, even though they were pioneered by women. Time chief executive Jessica Sibley said the list features girls aged between 12 and 17 who are "shaping their communities with courage and purpose". 2 Rebecca described it as "cool and very unexpected" to be among those named Credit: PA Julia Goldin, LEGO Group Chief Product & Marketing Officer, said: "When girls don't see it, they don't believe it - the world risks missing out on the next big breakthrough. "There's no stopping what girls can build. "Time's Girls of the Year is a step in giving the next generation the role models they deserve, recognising young women globally who are not just imagining a better world but actively creating it. "Together with Time we hope these stories will inspire a future generation of unstoppable female builders to dream big and continue making their mark on the world."
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Scot, 12, named on Time's first Girls of the Year list after homelessness design
Rebecca Young, from Glasgow, was aged just 11 when she came up with the idea after becoming concerned about people sleeping on the streets during a freezing Scottish winter. Now 12, she has been named alongside nine other girls from around the world all recognised as being young leaders inspiring communities, as part of a list aimed at celebrating and empowering girls. The Kelvinside Academy pupil described it as 'cool and very unexpected' to be among those named, adding: 'I'm honoured by the fact they wanted to include me on their Girls of the Year list and hope other kids see it and decide to do their part in helping people.' Rebecca, who had already won a UK engineering award earlier this year for her design, said she is interested in art, innovation and music, and one day hopes to pursue a career in the latter which she said 'can also help lots of people in many different ways'. Rebecca's design has resulted in 30 of the blankets being manufactured and distributed to a homeless shelter in Glasgow, with plans to make more. She and eight of the other girls are featured as part of a limited-edition animated Time cover – reimagined as Lego minifigures, with each character aimed at capturing the spirit of their achievements. The collaboration followed a recent study by the Lego group of more than 32,000 parents and children across 21 countries which found 70% of young women struggle to see themselves as someone who is good at building things. Rebecca Young is one of the Time Girls of the Year (Time/Lego Group/PA) It also found that children were twice as likely to credit major inventions to men – with most believing that wifi (69%) and the Moon landing software (68%) were invented by men, even though they were pioneered by women. Time chief executive Jessica Sibley said the list features girls aged between 12 and 17 who are 'shaping their communities with courage and purpose'. Julia Goldin, Lego group chief product and marketing officer, said: 'When girls don't see it, they don't believe it – the world risks missing out on the next big breakthrough. 'There's no stopping what girls can build. 'Together with Time we hope these stories will inspire a future generation of unstoppable female builders to dream big and continue making their mark on the world.'
