Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine at V&A Dundee

Located on the eastern coast of Scotland, Dundee is home to the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum. If you're planning a trip this year, be sure to visit the V&A Dundee’s exhibition highlighting the rich textile traditions of Palestine.

Running from June 2025 through spring 2026, this marks the exhibition’s first showing in the UK. It also celebrates Dundee’s longstanding connection with Palestine, particularly the city’s 45-year twinning with Nablus.

What is it?

Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine is a free exhibition exploring tatreez, the intricate hand embroidery passed down through generations of Palestinian women. More than just decorative, tatreez is a deeply rooted form of cultural storytelling. Each stitch carries meaning, expressing identity, geography, grief, pride and resilience.

The exhibition brings together more than 30 historical garments and accessories - dresses, veils, headdresses, jewellery and rare archival photographs. These items span from the late 19th century to the present day, revealing the deep symbolism embedded in Palestinian dress. Cut, colour, stitch and motif can all indicate where a woman is from and her social or marital status.

Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine has been developed in partnership with the Palestinian Museum in the West Bank, drawing on local expertise and objects from Palestine, as well as with Art Jameel, V&A South Kensington and V&A Dundee. 

The show not only showcases beautiful textiles but also explores the lived experiences and collective memory of generations of Palestinian women. Regional variations are explored in detail, from the lighter, practical garments of Galilee to the metallic threadwork of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Colours carry weight too—for instance, indigo-dyed tatreez worn by Bedouin women in mourning, with bright colours returning as grief lifts.

The exhibition also includes powerful contemporary interpretations of the tradition. Highlights include Zeid Hijazi’s punk-inspired fashion that fuses Palestinian embroidery with Scottish tartan, and Leena Nammari’s installation of 626 clay tablets representing Palestinian towns and villages lost to history.

One especially poignant piece on display is the embroidered dress worn by Dundee City Councillor Nadia El-Nakla during the 2023 swearing-in ceremony of her husband, Humza Yousaf, as First Minister of Scotland. The widely shared image became a symbol of cultural pride and political solidarity.

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 loves of the women who made, adapted and wore these dresses, jewellery, headdresses 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."

Antonia Carver, Director of Art Jameel, mentions: "Thread Memory builds on more than a decade of research and exhibitions curated by Rachel Dedman across Palestine, Lebanon, the UK and Saudi Arabia, which reflect on the rich traditions of tatreez and textiles. Working with the Palestine Museum, we are honoured to see this expanded iteration of the exhibition open at V&A Dundee, marking 45 years of Dundee's twinning with Nablus and the enduring ties of culture and solidarity between Scotland and Palestine. Art Jameel has a longstanding focus on producing exhibitions and programmes that foreground cultural continuity and discursive exchange. In this time of immense violence, injustice and grief, it feels more urgent than ever to centre every day, human stories of intergenerational creativity, resilience and resistance."

Whether you're passionate about embroidery, fashion history, or cultural storytelling, Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine is a rich, visually arresting experience that offers a deeper understanding of Palestinian heritage through design.

Where is it?

Thread Memory is on display at V&A Dundee; Scotland’s design museum set along the River Tay. The striking building was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and serves as a cultural hub in the city’s revitalised waterfront area.

The exhibition runs from June 2025 through spring 2026. This marks its first showing in the UK and also celebrates Dundee’s longstanding connection with Palestine—particularly the city’s 45-year twinning with Nablus.

Art in the Middle tip

Don't forget to check out the gift shop before you leave. You’ll find thoughtfully curated items connected to the exhibition and Palestinian culture, from embroidered pouches and cultural books to cookbooks that bring the flavors of Palestine into your kitchen.

Be sure to look out for We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition by Reem Kassis, illustrated by Noha Eilouti, a perfect keepsake for families. And if you’re a foodie or adventurous cook, pick up Falastin: A Cookbook by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley, packed with stories and recipes from the region.

Visit: vam.ac.uk/dundee