The Palestinian Thobe is more than an embroidered garment—it is a living archive. For Palestinians in the diaspora, these intricately stitched dresses are tangible connections to a homeland many have never seen, yet fiercely carry within them. Each motif tells a story—of identity, ancestral village, and unbroken resilience. Tragically, many Thobes have been lost to time, war, and dispossession—from heirloom dresses smuggled out of Palestine to stolen Thobes rediscovered in antique markets, their narratives preserved only in the whispers of fading thread.

This exhibit, Reclaiming Our Collective Inheritance, is both a memorial and a call to action: to rescue, preserve, remember, and honor the hands that embroidered them. More than fabric, these Thobes weave memory and return into every stitch. This is more than an exhibit—it is a reclamation. An act of cultural preservation which ensures that this art form, and the Palestinian narrative itself, remains alive for future generations. Will you help carry these threads into the future?

About the Collector
Ebtisam El-Sharkawy, known as Ebby, proudly carries her Palestinian-American identity, a daughter of two worlds: Gaza, Palestine & Florence, Alabama. Born and raised in the US, the ongoing occupation cast a long shadow, limiting her access to family in Palestine. It was through the intricate art of Tatreez, Palestinian embroidery, that Ebby found a deeply personal and tangible link to her culture. 

The most recent genocidal war on Gaza brought the senseless destruction, suffering, and displacement of her people and immediate family into sharp and painful focus through the screen of her phone – a devastating echo of the Nakba of 1948 that uprooted her great-grandfather from his home and orange orchard. This painful parallel fueled an overwhelming need to actively rescue, preserve, and share Palestinian culture and history within the diaspora. This collection started with a mislabeled thobe that she knew had to be rescued– and it quickly grew from there. 

For Ebby, these remarkable pieces are not meant to be hidden away but shared and learned from. To do this, she has put together an exhibit of Palestinian historical pieces and Thobes, allowing others to witness and appreciate the enduring beauty and significance of Palestinian heritage.

EXHIBITION SPONSORS: Mary Bronner, Golden Fleece Spinners Society, Barry & Barbara Gordon, M.J. & Ron Monsour, Thomas Mueller, Gary & Mary Salibrici, Sharon Sullivan, Marilee Williams, and Bahar Zaker & Michael Sanders

SEASON SPONSORS: Wendy Bousfield, Annemarie Deegan, Terry Eckert, Christine Flynn, Gegensatz Press, Michael Greenlar & Linda Bogart-Greenlar, Richard Jaeger, Ann Jamison, Shirley & Larry Novak, Vince Sgambati, Sharye Skinner, Ron VanNorstrand, Deborah Welsh & Bob Gates, Rosemary Welch & Craig Schlanger, and Shaila Wood & Ramesh Gaonkar

SPECIAL BENEFACTORS: Donald Blair & Nancy Dock, Bousquet Holstein, Edgewood Gallery, Karin Franklin-King: In Honor of Mary Kuhn, Sam Gruber, Sandra Hurd & Joel Potash, Nancy & Bruce McCoy, Dorothy and Marshall Reisman Foundation, Robert Sarason & Jane Burkhead, Carolyn Stark & John Przepioa, and Susan Wadley & Rick Olanoff

SUSTAINING SPONSORS: Walter Putter & Marilyn Smith