Threads of Memory: Honoring Golabetun
In my practice, I work with Golabetun threads, a traditional form of metallic embroidery thread deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Iran. These threads, often spun from gold or silver-toned yarn, have been used for centuries to embellish garments, ceremonial textiles, and sacred objects. I collect them from regions such as Geshm, Bandar Abbas, Mashhad, and Estehan, where this craft still breathes through the hands of local artisans.
Golabetun, also known as Zardouzi or Goldouzi, has a history that stretches back over two thousand years, particulary flourishing in Hormozgan province in southern Iran.
Traditionally, women would gather around embroidery hoops -called Kamand- to stitch intricate patterns onto crepe fabrics in vibrant colors like crimson, turquoise and saffron.
These designs often featuring paisleys, arabesques, and symbolic motifs, where sewn onto the cuffs, collars, and hems of regional clothing, transforming everyday garments into expressions of identity and heritage.
Today, I integrate these threads into my mixed media artworks, not only for their visual richness and durability, but to preserve and reinterpret a fading tradition. By weaving Golabetun into contemporary forms, I aim to create a bridge between past and present, between ancestral memory and modern expression.
Each thread carries a story. Each stitch is a gesture of remembrance.