Za'abeet

Za'abeet!Historically, the sleeves of the Hebron thobe did not reach the wrist. It featured a short "Raddan"—a sleeve with its edges tied behind the back—or a half-sleeve that left the forearm bare from the elbow down.Underneath this Raddan or half-sleeve, women wore the Za'abeet: a separate, lightweight, and colorful piece of fabric gathered with an elastic band. It covered the arm beautifully without restricting its movement.The purpose behind them was brilliantly practical. They were easy to remove and wash separately. Since women in the past did not own many thobes to change into, the Za'abeet provided the perfect everyday solution.Over time, the Raddan and Za'abeet faded away, replaced by the long, heavily embroidered sleeves directly attached to the modern thobe.Every single piece had a function. Nothing in our heritage was ever born of chance.