SUBJECT: Urgent Appeal for Solidarity with Palestinian Artisans: Support for Palestinian Embroidery Tradition

To Whom It May Concern at DMC,

Warm greetings from the global community of stitchers and cultural heritage enthusiasts. We hope this message finds you well.

We, the undersigned, are a global and trans-national collective of stitchers and cultural heritage workers who are deeply invested in the preservation and celebration of cultural traditions, particularly the art of Palestinian embroidery, also known as tatreez.

Since 2021, Palestinian embroidery has enjoyed protected status through its designation as a form of intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO – the UN’s top agency committed to the protection of educational, scientific and cultural production around the world. It is likewise often the case that cultural practices, such as Palestinian embroidery, belong to indigenous peoples and can only be passed down generationally from one stitcher to the next through person-to-person contact, education, and care. As such, like many other forms of indigenous cultural and artisanal practice, Palestinian embroidery has come under threat by the ongoing violence of Israeli military occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which is a violation of international law. This has further been exacerbated by the absolute blockade enacted on Gaza since October 2023. 

We are writing to ask DMC to make an official statement in support of stitchers, weavers, and other artisans in Gaza and in Palestine at large. 

Since its arrival to the Middle East and North Africa in the 1920s, DMC has been the prime choice of thread for practitioners of Palestinian embroidery and has been used almost exclusively to adorn embroidered objects from pillow cases to bridal gowns. When entering a crafts store in the Middle East, stitchers turn to a trusted choice, DMC Pearl Cotton (Size 8), due to its wide selection of standardized colors and the consistent quality and durability of the thread itself. Practitioners of Palestinian embroidery have committed to the use of DMC Pearl Cotton (Size 8) for over a century, as it provided a versatile and reliable alternative to hand spun silk threads, which were often naturally dyed and therefore it was difficult to maintain uniformity between one ball of thread and the next. Embroiderers often praise DMC Pearl Cotton thread for its luminosity, its longevity, and its consistency. 

In this, your products have become part of an ancient practice of embroidery that Palestinians have cultivated from the days of the Canaanite civilizations to the present day. Put simply, DMC has become part of our story.

In 2022, stitchers around the world witnessed DMC take an admirable and firm stance in support of the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression. We took note as DMC stood in support of Ukrainian cultural practices and brought Ukrainian embroidery to the attention of stitchers globally; by emailing a call-to-action to stitch for Ukraine, highlighting Ukrainian motifs and colors, and by offering free patterns in support of Ukraine.

It is clear that it is part of DMC’s ethos as a company and as a global community to stand against war and occupation and to support artisans and communities facing military aggression worldwide.

Given that the Palestinian community relies on DMC as their number one brand of choice for embroidery materials, and given that DMC has, in turn, become an invaluable and inextricable part of our cultural heritage story, we ask that this company take a firm stance in support of Palestinian artisans and the art of tatreez, as they have done for Ukraine and others in the past.

It is neither an over-statement nor an exaggeration to say that Palestinian embroidery is a core part of the Palestinian identity and therefore deserves recognition and support on a global scale. As such, we urge DMC to extend its solidarity to Palestinian artisans by actively promoting and showcasing Palestinian embroidery motifs, colors, and traditions, and by providing resources and assistance to sustain and preserve this cherished art form. Just as DMC has demonstrated its commitment to standing against injustice and supporting cultural heritage in the case of Ukraine, we believe it is incumbent upon the company to uphold these principles consistently and inclusively, ensuring that all communities facing adversity receive the solidarity and advocacy they deserve.

Warm regards,

[Signatures]