In a small and historically rich village beyond al Khalil, just before a’Naqab region of southern Palestine, are a hand-full of women keeping the traditional craft of hand-weaving alive. Bedouin weaving is a centuries-old art form handmade by women and traditionally passed down from mother to daughter. 

Having learned from their mothers Bedouin hand-weaving is a matrilineally preserved craft. The process is a multi-step, labor-intensive one that starts with the shearing of the wool, followed by the washing and spinning of the wool into yarn using a wooden drop-spindle. The yarn is then rolled into a ball and soaked in natural dye for coloring. After drying, the colored yarn is set on a ground loom, in a complex process that requires two to three women to count and cast numerous strands of warps, the lengthwise thread, according to the design.

The work is carried out collectively by family members and neighbors who pair up and rotate. It is done in a beautiful communal atmosphere where women work, talk, and laugh.

In between taking care of their families, resting, and being in community with other women in their village, it takes about 10 days to weave just one hand-woven bag, a slow labor of love.

In the heart of Bethlehem, just a few meters from the apartheid wall, Ibrahim Mourad carries on the tradition of tailoring, learning from his father and grandfather.

Specializing in women’s clothing, he creates elegant dresses, skirts, blouses, and even the occasional wedding dress. Working alongside him are two skilled women, Khalto Amal and Khalto Adilah, whose expertise in sewing and attention to detail ensure that each piece is perfected with love.

The process begins with measuring and patterning before the trio sets to work. The shop, though small, hums with energy as the women work in rhythm, exchanging stories as they stitch and sew. Each garment is the result of days of patience, skill, and collaboration.

Majdalawi fabric is woven on single-treadle looms, with the original weave using black and indigo cotton threads accented by bands of turquoise and fuchsia silk, symbolising heaven and hell. The fabric was used for dresses throughout the south of historic Palestine, with styles differing from region to region.

The fabric's namesake, Al Majdal was a vibrant town on the Mediterranean coast known for its prodigious weavers. On April 22, 1948, the year that marked the Nakba, the inhabitants of Al Majdal were forced to evacuate on buses to refugee camps in Gaza and the nearby city of Ramleh.

For decades, the practice of Palestinian weaving was all but lost, as its keepers were displaced and it became difficult for them to maintain the practice across generations as refugees. Husam, his brother, and a few other weavers are collectively keeping alive a critical piece of Palestine.

In February, our community raised the funds to help evacuate Husam, his chidlren, and his brother's children to safety in Cairo. He has since received support to open a Majdalawi weaving wokrshop in Cairo, keeping the textile and tradition alive.