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Galilee jillayeh
Nazareth الناصرة
In the Galilee the embroidery often moved from the dress to the coat. Women wore a fitted jillayeh over the thob, finished with appliqué panels and bands of stitching.
Kalandia Camp Women's Handicraft Cooperative
Preserving heritage, empowering women since 1956
More than 300 women in Kalandia Refugee Camp stitch Palestinian heritage into pieces that bring dignified income home.
A lighthouse still standing
KCWHC began in 1956 with twelve Palestinian women activists in a small UNRWA room at the entrance of the camp. It was the first women's society established at the level of Palestinian refugee camps in the Middle East.
Today it fills a three-floor building with training and production workshops, the Takreem Kindergarten and a showroom, serving marginalised families across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Read our story300+women earning through embroidery and tailoring at home
3,000women employed at the Cooperative's peak
58active members across Palestine and the diaspora
Tatreez map
Every town, its own thobe
Choose a town on the map to see its thobe, its stitches, its colours and its motifs.
Departments and programs for stronger communities
Through training, production, cultural preservation and humanitarian support, we create opportunities for women, youth and families.
Handicraft Embroidery Production Department
Traditional Palestinian tatreez, knitwear, garments and quilts, made by more than 300 women.
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Vocational Training Department
Hands-on courses that equip marginalised women with practical skills for viable livelihoods.
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Community & Humanitarian Department
Sponsorships, literacy, early childhood education, youth engagement and emergency aid.
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International & National Cooperation Department
International channels for cultural exchange, cooperative learning and start-up projects for vulnerable families.
Learn more →Unique pieces, timeless heritage
Every piece is hand cross-stitched in the Palestinian tradition. Your purchase puts fair income in the hands of the woman who made it.
A towering lighthouse, still standing to illuminate the path for women who lost everything after the 1948 Nakba, and the generations that followed.
From the KCWHC brochure
Strong roots for bright futures
Since its ground floor was built in 1981, Takreem Kindergarten has welcomed the camp's children into a safe, supportive classroom that builds confidence, independence and values.
