Widad Kawar’s Passion
Many years ago, in another life, I was honored to visit the collection of Widad Kawar in Amman, Jordan. I was so young, and so completely in awe of Widad, who had made it a life mission to collect traditional clothing of the area, Palestinian, which was her own heritage, and nomadic.
It was like being a little girl and getting to play dress up as we oooohed and aahhhed over these gorgeous old dresses and head dresses. I had no idea she had become an institution, until I began to research a style of hijab I had seen there which I found very elegant.
LIttle Diamond, these are for you. They are from several sources, including The Arab Heritage site on Widad Kawar which I urge you to peruse when you have a spare hour or half a day or . . . a lifetime. She has created a monumental body of work with her passion for preserving these fabulous textiles.
From Widad Kawar’s collection: North Jordan
Shows a little of the glitz – this one is from Salt, photo from Widad Kawar’s collection:
I love this photo. The woman has a plain version of the headdress, and is wearing a double dress . . . and her husband is holding her hand!
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Here There and Everywhere 
thank you thank you 🙂
I had to wait until I finished writing that conference report before I could let myself sit and page through her site. what a treasure trove! and i love that she describes herself as collecting “with affection and passion”.
I am wondering if you met Widad during any of your stays in Amman? She was always very generous about sharing her collection. . . oh, Little Diamond, you would love it.
Dear Mrs. Kawar,
Hope you are all well and in good health.
Jerusalem was elected as the cultural capital of the Arab world for 2009. The jerusalem committee in Beirut decided
to initiate cultural activities in Beirut as they do not expect Jerusalem to be able to play its role under the occupation.
They decided to call it “Jerusalem the cultural capital of the Arab World from Beirut”.
They asked the help of several of the Lebanese NGOs.
I have met you in the late 80s in Amman, and saw your beautiful Palestinian clothes collection.
As one of these activities we would like to exhibit your collection in Beirut.
I have already contacted the A.U.B. archeological museum curator. She is interested and we need to check with you
if this is possible from your part.
If so, we will go into the details of the clothes, the transportation, the insurance, date…
If all goes well, I will be the main coordinator.
Happy New Year and hope to hear from you soon.
N.B.: I tried to fax you several times on the following number : 00962 6 5698907, please how can we contact you?
Ghada Azar Knayzeh
Ghada, I am not Widad Kawar; I am a great fan of hers.
If you click on the blue type in the body of the article above, it will take you to Widad’s page on the Arab Heritage site. Under contacts, it says you can contact her at :
widad@arabheritage.org
Good luck! It sounds like a fabulous setting for her collection.
How beautiful! Thank you for sharing the site!
🙂 Ana, there are textile enthusiasts all over the world. We are sisters 🙂
[…] There and Everywhere also shared with me some goodies from Widad Kawar’s Heritage collection of Shamsii traditional clothes that are absolutely beautiful. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike […]