The Hebron Region
Al Khalil
(Hebron) region dresses are festive and richly embroidered in cross-stitch
embroidery on black or dark blue hand woven fabric. This area was noted for
its small, neat tiny stitching which were considered more beautiful. Its solid
embroidery that covered the fabric almost completely (talis) was valued
more h
ighly than lighter embroidery.
Bani Na'im dress
The dress chest piece is embroidered separately and then sawn on the dress. Red and brown color silk threads are predominantly used in this area's embroidery. Other color like yellow, green and pink have been used to compliment the brown and red colors.
Hebron dresses were often ornamented with applique'
patches, inserts and trimmings in taffeta (heremzi), satin and
velvet. Red, green and orange taffeta panels were inserted on the sleeves,
skirt sides, hems, cuffs and skirt front.
Hebron dress Headdress (araqiyeh, wuqayet al darahem) The headdress
in this area was heavily embroidered circular cap (araqiyeh). Encircling
the headdress is a band of coins (saffeh) of Maria Theresa silver
coins. Attached to the headdress are embroidered hair bands made of wool
(lafayef) and terminated with tassels. In the late nineteenth early twentieth centuries
brides of this area wore a spectacular headdress called wuqayet al darahem, which
was worn o
nly during the wedding ceremony.
The headdress was adorned with hundreds of small coins all
around it and embroidered in cross-stitch
on the top.
Wuqayet al darahem
Another striking
coin ornament worn by the bride was a vest called Miklab. This was
made of a red and yellow striped atlas satin silk fabric
covered with coins an
d other ornaments.
Araqiyyeh
Veil (Ghudfeh) In the Hebron area festive veils were made from
three pieces of linen or cotton fabric with silk cross-stitch embroidery joined
lengthways. Each panel has wide embroidery consisting of diagonal crosses, the
pasha's tent, cypress trees and
rows of branches (irq al tuffah). Tassels of cotton fringes is attached on one
side of the ghudfeh.
A taqsireh jacket was worn in this region as well as in the Bethlehem and Jerusalem areas.
J
acket (Taqsireh)
Belts
Girdles used in this area were made of red and yellow striped atlas satin silk fabric similar to the one used in Ramallah and other areas of Palestine.