Palestinian Embroidery (Tatreez) and Identity | Joanna Barakat

What made Tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) the symbol of Palestinian identity? Not ceramics, not glass blowing, not straw weaving. Why the stitch? Today, we sit down with Palestinian artist and author Joanna Barakat, who has spent years chasing this question. She unravels the deep-seated significance of Tatreez (Palestinian embroidery). Once hand-stitched by women in rural villages to signal their status and environment, Tatreez underwent a radical transformation following the 1948 Nakba. The result is Narrative Threads (2025), an anthology featuring 24 living Palestinian artists who use tatreez in their work — from Sliman Mansour and Nabil Anani to artists working inside Gaza right now, embroidering evacuation maps in real time. Joanna shares how Palestinian artists in the 1960s intentionally elevated these traditional motifs into a collective national symbol to spark a sense of "Palestinian-ness" and resist cultural erasure. Whether you grew up with Tatreez in your home or are just beginning to explore the language of each motif, this conversation offers a powerful look at how a centuries-old craft continues to evolve as a living archive of Palestinian existence. This episode is hosted and produced by Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. This conversation was recorded on February 2nd, 2026. You can watch it on YouTube, here. Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine. In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. Follow us on socials @tarwidapodcast -- Relevant links and Resources: Follow Joanna Barakat on Instagram (@joanna.barakat.art) Join the Tatreez Circle (@thetatreezcircle) Read Joanna’s book, Narrative Threads (https://saqibooks.com/books/saqi/narr...) See more of Joanna’s artwork, https://www.joannabarakatart.com/ Learn more about the Majdal weaving centers (https://www.darzah.org/blogs/darzah-b...) Learn more about the Bethlehem Tahriri/Couch stitch (https://www.darzah.org/blogs/darzah-b...) Learn more about Ismail Shammout (https://ismail-shammout.com/) and Tamam Al-Akhal (https://www.tamam-alakhal.com/) Follow Mohammed Alhaj and see more of his work (https://www.artzonepalestine.net/arti...) Follow Dena Mattar and see more of her work (https://www.artsy.net/artist/dina-mattar) Follow Mohammed Al Hawajiri and see more of his work (https://www.mohammedalhawajri.com/) Learn more about Maha Al-Daya (https://www.lairarts.com/maha-al-daya...) Learn more about Amer Shomali and his piece, Broken Weddings (https://www.amershomali.info/broken-w...) See more of Naqsh Collective’s work and follow them on Instagram (  / naqshcollective  ) See more of Steve Sabella’s work and follow him on Instagram (  / steve_sabella  ) Relevant Tarwida Episodes: Nabil Anani (   • I am the Land, and the Land is Me | Interv...  ) Sliman Mansour (   • The Brush that Carried a Homeland  I Slima...  ) Naqsh Collective (   • Tatreez on Stone | Interview with Naqsh Co...  ) Amer Shomali (   • Animating Resistance | Interview with Amer...  ) Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:58 Welcome to Tarwida 03:57 Joanna's Background and Diaspora 06:25 Discovering Tatreez 09:15 Tatreez pre-Nakba, 1948 12:50 Regional Embroidery Styles and Trade 15:04 Personalizing and Wearing Thobes 18:32 1948 Rupture and 1960s Symbol 24:17 Machine Embroidery Debate 27:10 Fashion Rebranding Begins 27:29 Modern Tatreez Wear 29:34 Heartstrings, Joanna's Self Portrait 32:53 Reclaiming Motifs 34:16 Tatreez Circle Origins 35:12 Learning Through Screens 39:09 Urgency of Preservation 42:22 Why Write the Book, Narrative Threads 44:14 Curating 24 Artists 47:12 Powerful Works Inside 52:33 Future Plans