Join Wafa Ghnaim (Tatreez & Tea), Rami Kashou, and Suzy Tamimi for this exciting panel! What stories come alive through tatreez and textile? How has tatreez played a role in sharing Palestinian culture across villages, families, and now transcending borders? Tune in to what is sure to be a lively discussion!
Wafa Ghnaim
Wafa Ghnaim is a Palestinian-American artist, researcher, writer, educator, and businesswoman who began learning Palestinian embroidery from her mother, award-winning artist Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim, when she was two years old. Her first book, “Tatreez & Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Palestinian Diaspora” (2018), documents the traditional patterns passed to her by her mother. Wafa has since become a leading educator in the field as the first-ever Palestinian embroidery instructor at the Smithsonian Museum, and an artist-in-residence at the Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, D.C. In addition to her extensive scholarship, Wafa continues her mother’s educational legacy through Tatreez & Tea, a global arts education initiative she began in 2016. Wafa has been featured in major media outlets, recently featured in Vogue Magazine, naming her and her mother “the world’s leading guardians of tatreez”. Wafa currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Suzy Tamimi
Suzy Tamimi is a first generation Palestinian/American fashion designer based in New York. Raised in California, her parents instilled in her a strong Palestinian identity, keeping her connected to her roots. They came to the United States in the mid seventies in hopes of raising a family and living a better life. She has been drawn to traditional Palestinian clothing and textiles since her youth. After studying Fashion and Textile design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, inspired by her family history, she felt compelled to bring positive change to the world using fashion as her medium. In 2016, she was invited to design a modern interpretation of a traditional Palestinian dress that was showcased at the United Nations headquarters in New York, commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the exhibit “Palestinian Embroidery: Threads of Continuity, Identity and Empowerment”. Suzy used vintage remnants of Palestinian embroidery to complete the dress. She has been featured in Vogue Arabia in 2019 and again in September 2021.
Her new collection, Freedom Fighter, is a political and humanitarian expression, implementing indigenous fabrics and innovative textile design to pay homage to the past with eyes to the future. The collection is primarily athletic wear, unpretentious and practical. The trims of traditional fabrics that decorate the sleeves and collars are hand-embroidered by Palestinian women refugees. “Freedom Fighter” is printed in both Arabic and English text using bold, uncomplicated typography.
The centerpiece of the collection is a boxing robe adorned with traditional Palestinian textiles and a crest designed by Suzy. The coat of arms contains three emblems: Doves, universal symbols of peace, branches from olive trees, cornerstones of Palestinian agriculture and heritage, and poppy flowers, honoring the many lives lost in the pursuit of freedom for the Palestinian people. The crest and robe together make a clear statement relatable to all oppressed peoples of the world: We have to fight for our freedom. Suzy was invited to debut the Freedom Fighter collection at the 61st Annual Ramallah Convention in Washington DC on July 5th, 2019, which was presented by Tatreez and Tea's Wafa Ghnaim.
Rami Kashou
The son of the former Miss Jordan, Rami Kashou grew up in style. Kashou was born in Jerusalem on May 11, 1976 and raised in Ramallah where he was often commissioned by the local town socialites to design their ensembles.
Upon arriving in the U.S. in 1996, Kashou worked in retail for several years. This eventually led him to a buying and merchandising position at a well-known boutique in Los Angeles. After a stint of traveling to Europe as a buyer, Kashou bit the bullet and purchased two sewing machines. He vigorously studied pattern making from the local vintage boutiques. “I would buy a piece and take it apart and inspect it, then I would learn.” Kashou said. After three years of self-education, he began creating what would later be known as the “One of a Kind” collection that was picked up by various notable Los Angeles boutiques.
A seasoned veteran of runway shows, Rami Kashou has shown his devotion and passion for groundbreaking feminine design, and as a result has become one of the most coveted runway shows to attend during fashion week, attracting celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Christina Aguilera. Rami showcased his finale collection in Bryant Park as a finalist and runner up during his appearance on Bravo's television hit show Project Runway where his passion for fluid draping was embraced by many women around the globe.
Known for his dramatic red carpet gowns, Rami has draped the silhouettes of celebrities and trendsetters such as Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, Penelope Cruz, Dita Von Teese, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. His designs have graced the pages of the New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, Interview, Elle, In Style, and Flaunt amongst many others.