A joyous celebration of pattern and color, and of an enduring Palestinian tradition. The historical and cultural richness of Palestine is reflected visually in its costume and embroidery. Distinguished by boldness of color, richness of pattern, and diversity of style, and combined with great needlework skill, these textiles have long played an important role in Palestinian culture and identity and manifested themselves in every aspect of Palestinian life. Based on over twenty-five years of extensive field research, this lavishly illustrated book presents the most exhaustive and up-to-date study of the origins of Palestinian embroidery and costumefrom antiquity through medieval Arab textile arts to the present. With sumptuous photography and well-informed text, it documents region by region the evolution of costume and the textile arts in Palestine in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and displays this unique art in all its splendor.