By Layla Al-Hadhrami ~
Wear on fabric-made clothes is to inherit centuries of heritage. In the nook and cranny of Yemen, fabrics are uttering determination and identity.
Wherever you walk through souks of a bygone era or trek through highlands, you witness Yemeni textile arts withstanding the test of time. They are old and new woven together – constant conversation between experienced, aged hands and contemporary design.
Sheherazade, the nation’s best designer and Sana’ani by birth, fuses old with new. To her is Yemeni textile heritage that is revered.
It’s Yemen in its entirety that’s there in that sumptuous brocade of life. That ubiquitous thobe, that venerable robe, leftovers of tribal times and heritage. All the thobes are heavily embroidered, so naturally worn are living history.
It’s that personal touch that distinguishes these cloths. These are not products from the factory. Country women, country men perhaps, sit threes and fours in circles of looms. Fingers crossed, they talk and befriend each other. These are not craft shops; they are empowerment shops.
Yemen’s emphasis on use of local material has to be achieved. Cotton, silk, and wool, dyed with the dyes of locally grown plants, talk about a sustainability philosophy. It is the Yemenis who are making ripples everywhere with this ecophilosophy. It is they who are milking tradition and innovation together to the fullest.
Since the world is open, fear of Aisha and other designers not embracing Yemeni materials to the fashion world. She possesses all global potential without losing her uniqueness. She would feel new garments made from curled yarns manually but with a new material. She wants to acquire foreign clients and embrace Yemen’s intellectual giants.
Social networking sites like Instagram and Etsy are two of the largest retailers of this cultural renaissance. They are offering artists a platform on which to present their wares and bring them to consumers all across the globe. Tap your finger, tap into craft that has consumed every seam.
And in the ever-scented disarray of Yemen, it is all this weaving heritage is: a ray of light. This determination seeps into every strand – a quiet act of rebellion against decay. By refusing to lose their heritage from their hands without learning to keep pace with progress, Yemenis are asserting their culture for the future.
The following time you pass by a Yemeni fabric, do pay attention. Let it caress your hand. You have history, heritage, and potential between your fingers in a cloth.
Further Reading and Resources:
- Discover Yemen’s textile heritage on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list
- Learn about the sustainable use of natural dyes from Fashion Revolution
- Explore the impact of Yemeni artisans on the global market via Etsy’s handmade marketplace
- Follow contemporary Yemeni fashion trends at Vogue Arabia
