This is a vintage hand-embroidered folk-style tunic, dating to the late 1970s–1980s, and labeled “Made in Pakistan.” I acquired it in the early 1980s from a friend who collected it on a trip to Pakistan. It was made for the export market during a period when Pakistani workshops created high-quality, hand-embroidered garments inspired by traditional Middle Eastern and Palestinian folk dress.
The tunic is made from black cotton or linen and features dense hand embroidery in vivid magenta pink with yellow accents, arranged in a bold central vertical panel reminiscent of traditional Palestinian thobe designs. The embroidery shows natural variation in stitch tension and spacing, confirming hand work rather than machine embroidery. Please see the photos taken of the reverse side of the embroidery.
This garment is folk-inspired rather than ethnographic—it is not a village-made Palestinian thobe—but it is a genuine vintage piece and a strong example of 1970s–80s export embroidery craftsmanship. It can be worn as a statement tunic, a bohemian or folk costume piece, or used as a decorative textile.
Details:
Country of origin: Pakistan (labeled)
Date: Circa late 1970s–1980s
Style: Palestinian / Levant-inspired folk embroidery
Materials: Cotton or linen ground; cotton embroidery floss
Technique: Hand embroidered
Color: Black with magenta/pink and yellow embroidery
Condition: Very good vintage condition with light, age-appropriate wear; embroidery intact; no major stains or damage noted. Also note that the final embroidery element on the front panel has run out of room and ends with a somewhat uneven hem.
Measurements:
Length 36"
Chest width 20-3/4"
Sleeve length 21-1/2"
Shoulder width 15"
Neck opening width 5"
Wash in cold water, no agitation.
Please review all photos carefully, as they are part of the description.