S2E1. RESCUING THOBES WITH LINDA
LINDA IS A TATREEZ ARTIST BASED IN THE BAY AREA AND YOUR THOBE RESCUING GURU (@THETATREEZEDIT). In this episode, we delve into Linda's journey into the world of tatreez, from discovering the craft to finding a community of like-minded enthusiasts. She shares her unique approach to rescuing handmade thobes from second-hand shops and emphasizes mindful purchasing (spoiler: you negotiate with non-Palestinians and pay Palestinians whatever they ask for).
Linda reveals the stories behind the thobes she's saved, her inspiration to create her own thobe one day, and her current tatreez projects. We also hear the beautiful love story through her Teta's tatreez book and the beautiful life lessons she's learned from this art form. A heartwarming conversation that we know you’ll enjoy!
You’ll hear about:
>> 1:10: Linda’s connection to Palestine
>> 4:39: Linda’s introduction to tatreez
>> 9:20: Finding tatreez community
>> 11:26: Scouting handmade tatreez from second-hand shops online
>> 15:29: What are the stories behind the thobes that are given up and then re-sold?*
>> 16:56: Lina rescues a thobe through Linda’s find
>> 22:14: Linda’s approach to purchasing handmade thobes mindfully
>> 23:36: How to rescue Palestinian thobes
>> 25:00: The stories and time periods behind the dresses that Linda has rescued
>> 26:50: Inspired to make a thobe one day
>> 29:20: Linda’s Teta’s tatreez book x love story
>> 32:50: Linda’s current tatreez projects
>> 38:18: Linda’s design process
>> 40:40: Linda’s major life lessons from tatreez
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*For more information on the reference to rescued dresses from elderly non-Palestinians not knowing what to do with these acquired handmade gems on their deathbed, we recommend Wafa Ghnaim’s book THOBNA: Reclaiming Palestinian Dresses in the Diaspora (2023). Pages 16-19 and 62-83 discuss the dresses that formed the Tatreez Institute Collection, a collection that has now rescued over 180 Palestinian, Syrian, Jordanian and Lebanese dresses and headdresses.
Follow us @tatreeztalk
Follow Amanne @minamanne & Lina @linasthobe