Farah returned from Jerusalem with the book and, to Hanan's added delight, ten traditional Palestinian costumes. They had an idea of having a "collection," but after they pored over the book, they realized, says Hanan, that "a collection would be a lot more than 10 costumes."
Echoing patterns that often date from antiquity, textiles and traditional costumes form a rich part of cultural legacies. And this is especially true with the Arab heritage.
The Middle East has been a leader in textile production since ancient times, while Arabs introduced to the West many forms of silk weaving and production. Witness, for example, the frequent use of such Arabic names as "damask" (from Damascus) and "gauze" (from Gaza) for certain fabric weaves. Ancient embroidery patterns, meanwhile, were passed on from the Arab world to Europe in the Middle Ages: these were perpetuated in European pattern books dating back to the 15th century.
Until more recent times, the style of each costume in the Middle East, from bridal attire to ceremonial dress, not only bespoke an ethnic and regional identity, but both the identity of the village and the maker as well.
Thus these costumes represent a wealth in diversity, number and local history. A collection of traditional Middle Eastern costumes could be vast and significant as a cultural conservator.
With this in mind, the Munayyers turned their attention to building a real collection. Both professional research scientists, they set to the task with an eye for detail and thoroughness.
In 1990, the Munayyers established the Palestinian Heritage Foundation and acquired an extensive collection of Palestinian and Syrian costumes, systemically assembled by the late Dr. Rolla Foley, who lived in Palestine in 1938.
A nonprofit cultural and educational organization based in New Jersey, the Palestinian Heritage Foundation is aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of Arab and specifically Palestinian culture and traditions. The foundation is aided by an advisory board composed of dedicated and talented members from intellectual, cultural and artistic fields.
To acquaint the American public with Arab culture and art, the Munayyers have presented major exhibitions at the Mengei Museum of Folk Art in San Diego; the Fuller Museum of Art near Boston; and special exhibits at Harvard University, the United Nations and a display designed for public libraries that toured New Jersey for over two years. Their live shows have included presentations at the United Nations in New York, the Arab World festival in Michigan, Dar El-Tifl in Los Angeles, The Ramallah Federation of Palestine in Florida, the Canadian Palestinian Cultural Foundation in Montreal and most recently Mahrajan al-Fan at the Brooklyn Museum in New York.
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