Behind the Design: 'Shajarat al Hayat'
For those unfamiliar, tatreez is a vital piece of Palestinian culture. Historically, tatreez was used to decorate thobes (a traditional Palestinian dress). Each pattern told part of the wearer’s connections to the land, coming together to tell a story of identity. Today, tatreez is used to decorate household items and clothing, highlighting the importance of traditional culture .
Hayat’s name means “life,” and we can’t think of a more appropriate design than the Shajarat al Hayat, or “tree of life.” This design tells Hayat’s story - at least the first 15 years of it, with ample room to grow as her life story unfolds. Using resources like Tirazain and Tatreez & Tea, our artists adapted traditional patterns to create this unique design for our youngest Pal.
Keep scrolling to learn more about how the Shajarat al Hayat design came into being!
The ‘Shajarat al Hayat’ design
Like many, Hayat’s family is not originally from Gaza. Her ancestral ties are to the northeast - a village called سمسم, or Simsim. The village had been occupied consistently for centuries, with archaeological sites dating to the Byzantine and Roman eras. It was also known to Crusaders, who recorded their “journey to the Holy Land,” referring to the village as “Semsem” (Anglicized سمسم).
Map of pre-Nakba Palestine, showing the location of Simsim in relation to Jabalia and Gaza.
Source: Palestine Open Maps
Records place the village's population in 1948 at just under 1,500 men (70 of which were Jewish). Simsim had 341 homes and its own school, which was shared with the neighboring village of Najd. In 1945, 45 students were enrolled in the school. The land was used to farm cereal and citrus.
Colonization ethnically cleansed the village in 1948, sending survivors to the Strip and leaving the village in ruin. Today, the ruins of Simsim are used by settlers as a grazing pasture.
We wanted to incorporate Simsim, Jabalia, and Gaza in Hayat’s design, so we turned to Tirazain for tatreez patterns associated with Hayat’s life and ancestry. Click on the thumbnails below to learn more about each pattern, where it originates, and why we chose to include it in the ‘Shajarat al Hayat’ design.
Hayat’s story is far from over, and we just can’t wait to see where this brilliant young woman goes.
Be sure to check out the newest additions to the Hayat Collection, which are available now! As with all the OM designs, 100% of the profits will go to Hayat, helping her further her education and achieve her goals.
Show some love and support for the Tirazain researchers, and be sure to check out the Palestine Remembered site to learn more about Simsim and other Palestinian villages.
