About Tulkarm Made
We are proud to support and uplift women artisans in Tulkarm, a city in the occupied West Bank that has endured decades of hardship — from sieges and bombardments to economic isolation. In the face of these immense challenges, the women of Tulkarm continue to create beauty, preserve tradition, and care for their communities.
Our handmade products are crafted by Palestinian grandmothers, their daughters, and granddaughters — women whose hands carry generations of skill and stories. They work side-by-side to produce each piece with pride, patience, and deep cultural knowledge. We also proudly collaborate with women from two nearby refugee camps, whose artistry and resilience enrich every collection.
By purchasing from Tulkarm Made, you’re not just buying a handmade piece — you’re standing with a community. You’re helping Palestinian women preserve their culture, support their families, and carve out a life of dignity under occupation.
Every stitch tells a story. Thank you for being part of it.
Our Story
A collective rooted in heritage
Tulkarm Made began as a family of farmers and artisans dedicated to traditional tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) and agriculture. In our besieged city, we first gathered in the local refugee camp to welcome anyone seeking work.
Led by our founder Sousan, our collective has grown to over 30 women. Our network includes displaced Palestinians from two camps, local villagers, and city residents. To expand our impact, we also collaborate with small local businesses (such as deaf craftsmen and family workshops) for finishing touches, allowing us to support even more women in our community.
Every piece is made entirely by hand in Tulkarm, Palestine. For us, ethical means fair pay, independence, and protecting the dignity and heritage of every Palestinian on our team.
Our People
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Sousan
Founder (Palestinian Australian)
Sousan is the visionary founder of our collective, blending her Palestinian heritage and Australian experience to lead and inspire our team. She has been living in Tulkarm for 10 years, and both her parents are from Tulkarm. -
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Teta Um Hassan
Traditional cooking & farming expert
@palestinian_grandma90-year-old grandma with over 60 grandkids. Grandma is a traditional Palestinian healer who combines generations of herbal wisdom with cupping therapy (Hijama) to support her community. By harvesting local plants for natural remedies and using gentle heat therapies, she specializes in helping women overcome fertility struggles. Her dedicated care preserves a rich medical heritage while bringing health, hope, and holistic well-being to everyone she treats.
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Halami
Traditional Palestinian Tatreez Artist and Cuisine Expert
Halami is a master of traditional Palestinian embroidery (tatreez) and food, as well as an experienced forager, farmer, and thobe sewer. Deeply connected to the land of Palestine, she preserves cultural heritage through her intimate knowledge of its plants, traditions, and crafts. -
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Fadwa
Pattern Designer & Tatreez Expert
Fadwa specialises in intricate Palestinian pattern design and expert colour matching, as well as traditional tatreez, enriching every project with her artistry. She is our lead expert in tatreez. -
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Intissa
Intissa is a farmer and an expert in Grandma’s traditional Palestinian cooking, making our zaatar dukkah, pickles, and other foods with her mother and daughters. She also does Tatreez, traditional Palestinian embroidery, together with her daughters.
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Muayad
Chef, Educator & Farmer
Muayad brings his culinary expertise, passion for teaching, and sustainable farming practices to our collective. As a steward of the Palestinian land, he incorporates local ingredients and traditional agricultural wisdom into every aspect of his work.
How it began
My name is Sousan. I'm a Palestinian-Australian living in Tulkarm with my family. I spend my days raising my children and caring for my beloved mother-in-law — known online as @palestiniangrandma.
It all started with short videos I shared on Instagram, capturing daily life and the beautiful home décor made by my mother-in-law and other women. Viewers began noticing the handmade tatreez (traditional Palestinian embroidery) in the background and asked if they could purchase authentic pieces directly from Palestine.
That simple curiosity sparked a movement.
I reached out to local women artisans, many of whom had few or no job opportunities. Together, we created Tulkarm Made — a way to share the richness of Palestinian heritage with the world and provide dignified, meaningful income to women in our community.
What I love most about this work is seeing how it changes lives. Women tell me they finally feel seen and valued. They find joy and pride in their craft. Tatreez gives them a sense of purpose — and for many, a sense of peace.
For me, this journey has become more than a project. It’s a calling. I love tatreez. I love our women of Tulkarm. I love seeing the beauty they create even in the hardest of times.
Our Land
Nestled 15km from the Mediterranean and 12km west of Nablus, Tulkarm is a historic West Bank city renowned for its fertile agricultural lands, Canaanite heritage, and strategic position. Rooted in the ancient name Tur Karm—the Mountain of Vineyards—this welcoming, traditional retreat offers visitors an authentic Palestinian experience.
The challenges we face
Getting supplies to Tulkarm is difficult. Since the escalation of violence in 2023, even basic materials like embroidery thread have become harder to find. Certain colours are in short supply, and prices have risen. But still, the women persist.
Access to healthcare and education is another challenge. Many families must choose between buying medicine or paying school fees. Every sale helps ease that burden — supporting not just the women stitching, but their children, their elders, and their whole households.
Tulkarm holds deep meaning for all the women in our collective. Since the invasions began, our connection to the city and our roots has only grown stronger. Now, more than ever, we feel a responsibility to carry our heritage forward and support each other as a resilient community.
Our Work
Every stitch tells a story of resilience
Under occupation, work is scarce. Since the war on Gaza began in October 2023, the situation in the West Bank has only worsened. Military raids, checkpoints, and closures have made life even more unstable, especially for women. Many have been displaced from their homes and now live with relatives, in mosques, or in temporary shelters.
Despite this, our women continue to embroider — not just for income, but for healing, resistance, and hope.
What sets Tulkarm Made apart is our commitment to fair and immediate compensation. While other initiatives often delay payments until items are sold, we pay our artisans right away — no waiting, no uncertainty. In a place with no government support and limited access to jobs, that reliability matters.
We handcraft tatreez, crochet thobes, soaps, honey, olive oil, zaatar, jewellery, traditional Arabic calligraphy art and more, amazingly all made in Tulkarm. We keep everything local, support fair trade, and keep planting trees and growing fresh produce, even as the occupation brings new challenges. We create during difficult days in Tulkarm, especially since the invasions began – even one delivery can be a struggle, but we keep creating. Every piece made in Tulkarm embodies our history, resilience, and the enduring spirit of our community.
By choosing our products, you are not only supporting the talented women of Tulkarm as they work to provide for their families but you are keeping our Palestinian culture and history alive.
As our city faces siege and resources become limited, we continually find creative ways to fulfil custom orders. Your support & patience means the world to us!