How Does the Palestinian Thobe Preserve Palestinian Existence? [Student Presentation]

Nour Halabe explores the Palestinian thobe, what it symbolizes, and its role in the Palestinian resistance. The Palestinian thobe is a traditional embroidered dress handmade and worn for centuries by Palestinian women; it is the bedrock of Palestinian textile artistry.

Nour Halabe is a Junior at the American School of Palestine, Palestine. She is one of the 8 Incredible students who participated in afikra Global Connect 2nd Cohort.

****** ABOUT THE SERIES ******

afikra Global Connect is a one-of-kind 8-week course designed for high school students interested in exploring the Arab World's histories and cultures and connecting with other stellar leading students worldwide. Global Connect is supported by the University of Chicago’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies & the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

****** ABOUT AFIKRA ******‎

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.

[NidaZada]

Hello Nour, thank you for your insightful presentation. I learned something I didn’t know: that color use may indicate emotional states. Super interesting!

What are your thoughts on Palestinian designers creating new clothing styles inspired by the thobe and tatreez? Is there a designer you feel does this well?