On The Road with Nöl Collective






Synopsis





Yasmeen recounts: “One time I went to meet a tailor in Ramallah. I went in and I was so rushed and stressed, thinking ‘we need to finish making these things, customers’ orders.’ They were about to sit down to eat breakfast on their sewing table as they worked. During their breakfast, customers would walk in and the tailors continued eating and chatting. They asked me to sit down, have breakfast and a coffee, and I remember thinking, ‘this is so anti-capitalist,’ prioritizing food, pleasure and family.’ It really forced me to change my perspective of production and how to prioritize the people behind the product.”

An observational documentary about Nöl Collective, a fashion brand in Ramallah, Palestine. The film follows Yasmeen crossing checkpoints, weaving each location into Nöl’s pieces. From Jerusalem’s hills to Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Gaza, they collaborate with artisans preserving historic crafts. Yet, the Israeli occupation limits movement, access to fabrics, and threatens craftspeople’s livelihood.

The film captures the intricate duality of life in the West Bank—where artisans practice their slow, meticulous craft in moments of stillness and tradition, while the journey to reach them is marked by tension and uncertainty. Between the delicate rhythms of embroidery and weaving and the harsh reality of crossing checkpoints, the film reveals the resilience woven into every stitch. Embroidery and weaving in Palestine is a historic, indigenous, and beautiful tradition. As a result of the Israeli occupation, it has become layered with struggle and resistance. Palestinian women cooperating as a collective to carry on the craft, is a mission we believe is of great importance to document.


                                                        





Get Involved 

You can support the documentary by purchasing one of Nöl Collective’s tee’s - in collaboration with Gabriella Bustillos.


https://nolcollective.com/collections/shop-all/products/textiles-tee-fundraiser

Crew


Director: Raya Shaban
Producer: Michael Zananiri
Director of Photography: Yousef Hammad 
Sound: Montaser Abu Allool
Editor: Omri Massarwe

Featuring Nöl Collective




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