Abir Barakat, inspired by her father's passion for tatreez, founded Jeel to preserve Palestinian embroidery that reflects cultural identity and history. After years in marketing, she launched her brand in 2014 to repurpose historical tatreez pieces, as many traditional villages no longer exist. Jeel has gained popularity, with over 18,000 Instagram followers, in response to the United Nations' warning that tatreez is at risk of vanishing. Barakat emphasizes the rich heritage and the significance of tatreez in showcasing Palestinian social status and identity.
"My memory is how passionate he was about it and how he would tell us different stories about (tatreez). He would acquire these old Palestinian dresses [some of which] are museum pieces..."
"It was such a rich history and a rich heritage that it had to be repurposed... a lot of these villages that the embroidery comes from no longer exist."
"The headpiece, for example, could signal a person’s social status, indicating how intricate the embroidery is and the colors used in their garments."
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