Carol McManus Costume Donation August 2010
In August 2010, Mansoojat was honoured to receive a significant donation from Carol McManus: a traditional Najd thobe with a distinguished provenance. The garment had been gifted to Mrs. McManus by Marianne Alireza, who herself had received the thobe from Queen Effat Al Thunayan, wife of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This extraordinary lineage adds both cultural and historical value to the piece. Originating from the Najd region, the thobe reflects the elegance and craftsmanship associated with central Saudi dress traditions, while its royal connection situates it within a broader narrative of modern Saudi history. The donation represents not[...]
Singapore Heritage Fest Singapore, August 2010
In August 2010, The Mansoojat Foundation presented selected garments from its collection at the Singapore HeritageFest, sharing the richness of traditional Saudi dress with international audiences. Set within Singapore’s dynamic multicultural landscape, the festival provided a meaningful platform for cultural exchange. Visitors engaged with the craftsmanship, symbolism and regional identities expressed through embroidery, colour and form — discovering resonances between Gulf textile traditions and Southeast Asian heritage practices. For Mansoojat, the event marked an important early international milestone, reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding traditional dress while fostering global dialogue through exhibition and public engagement.
Furman Costume Donation, London (2010)
In March 2010, London, Serena Furman presented three costumes to The Mansoojat Foundation. The costumes were generously donated by her mother, Mary Eddy Furman. The donation formed part of Mansoojat’s continuing work to preserve and document traditional costume heritage and to expand the Foundation’s growing collection of historic garments and textiles connected to the cultures of the Arabian Peninsula and the wider region. The Foundation remains grateful for contributions such as this, which support the safeguarding of traditional dress and material culture for future generations.
Le Notre Restaurant Jeddah, March 2010
In March 2010, Mansoojat was invited by Le Notre Restaurant to present its costume documentary and selected pieces from the Mansoojat workshop for international visitors arriving in Jeddah aboard a Crystal Cruises ship. The event offered tourists a rare introduction to traditional Saudi dress and craftsmanship. Guests viewed the documentary before engaging directly with garments and hand-embroidered pieces, gaining insight into regional identities, techniques and the cultural stories embedded in each textile. This presentation reflected Mansoojat’s early commitment to cultural diplomacy — sharing Saudi heritage with global audiences and creating meaningful encounters through costume, storytelling and craft.
Furman Costume Donation London, March 2010
In March 2010, The Mansoojat Foundation was honoured to receive three traditional costumes presented in London by Serena Furman. The garments were generously donated by her mother, Mrs Mary Eddy Furman. Each piece reflects the richness of regional dress traditions, with hand embroidery, distinctive silhouettes and carefully crafted detailing that speak to the social and cultural contexts in which they were worn. This donation strengthened the The Mansoojat Foundation collection at an early stage in its development, contributing not only important textile examples but also preserving personal histories connected to Saudi heritage.
Washington University Alumni Jeddah, February 2010
In February 2010, Mansoojat hosted a cultural evening in Jeddah for alumni of Washington University in St. Louis. The event featured a display of selected traditional costumes from the Mansoojat collection, alongside a screening of the Mansoojat documentary. Guests were introduced to the regional diversity, craftsmanship and cultural narratives embedded within Saudi dress traditions. Items produced by the Mansoojat workshop were also available for purchase, offering attendees an opportunity to support heritage preservation while engaging directly with contemporary interpretations of traditional textile arts. The gathering reflected Mansoojat’s early commitment to community outreach — combining scholarship, storytelling and sustainable craft practice[...]
National Wedding Festival, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2008)
From 22–24 November 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the National Wedding Festival held at the Hilton Hotel in Jeddah. The festival was organised by the First Women's Welfare Society and celebrated the diversity of wedding traditions and cultural heritage across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of the programme, Mansoojat presented examples of two traditional wedding processions from different regions of Saudi Arabia. On 22 November, the Foundation showcased a wedding procession from the Jizan region. On 23 November, a second presentation featured traditions associated with the Bani Sa'ad Tribe. The participation highlighted the richness of regional costume traditions, ceremonial practices, and the importance[...]
National Wedding Festival Hilton Hotel, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 22nd – 24th November, 2008
The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the National Wedding Festival, organised by the First Women's Welfare Society, with examples of two wedding processions from different regions in Saudi Arabia: the first from Jizan on the 22nd of November and the second from the Bani Sa'ad tribe on the 23rd of November. Mansoojat's participation in this event was kindly sponsored by Mohammed Hassan Abu Dawood. Photographs by Denise Weber, Safa'a Alireza and Noura Alireza
Jeddah Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia (2008)
On 24 February 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum held at the Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center in Jeddah. The forum brought together regional and international leaders, business figures, and cultural organisations to discuss economic development and the future of the region. Mansoojat’s participation highlighted the importance of traditional costume, textile heritage, and cultural preservation within wider conversations about identity, heritage, and development in Saudi Arabia. Photography from the event was provided by Denise Weber
Jeddah Economic Forum Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center, Saudi Arabia February 2008
In February 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum at the Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center. Within the setting of this major international forum, The Mansoojat Foundation presented traditional Saudi costume and textile heritage to delegates and global visitors. The display highlighted regional craftsmanship, embroidery traditions and the cultural narratives embedded within each garment. The event provided an important early platform for The Mansoojat Foundation to position heritage as an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s identity — demonstrating that culture and tradition stand alongside economic development in shaping the Kingdom’s global presence.
In August 2010, Mansoojat was honoured to receive a significant donation from Carol McManus: a traditional Najd thobe with a distinguished provenance. The garment had been gifted to Mrs. McManus by Marianne Alireza, who herself had received the thobe from Queen Effat Al Thunayan, wife of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz[...]
In August 2010, The Mansoojat Foundation presented selected garments from its collection at the Singapore HeritageFest, sharing the richness of traditional Saudi dress with international audiences. Set within Singapore’s dynamic multicultural landscape, the festival provided a meaningful platform for cultural exchange. Visitors engaged with the craftsmanship, symbolism and regional identities[...]
In March 2010, London, Serena Furman presented three costumes to The Mansoojat Foundation. The costumes were generously donated by her mother, Mary Eddy Furman. The donation formed part of Mansoojat’s continuing work to preserve and document traditional costume heritage and to expand the Foundation’s growing collection of historic garments and textiles connected to the[...]
In March 2010, Mansoojat was invited by Le Notre Restaurant to present its costume documentary and selected pieces from the Mansoojat workshop for international visitors arriving in Jeddah aboard a Crystal Cruises ship. The event offered tourists a rare introduction to traditional Saudi dress and craftsmanship. Guests viewed the documentary[...]
In March 2010, The Mansoojat Foundation was honoured to receive three traditional costumes presented in London by Serena Furman. The garments were generously donated by her mother, Mrs Mary Eddy Furman. Each piece reflects the richness of regional dress traditions, with hand embroidery, distinctive silhouettes and carefully crafted detailing that[...]
In February 2010, Mansoojat hosted a cultural evening in Jeddah for alumni of Washington University in St. Louis. The event featured a display of selected traditional costumes from the Mansoojat collection, alongside a screening of the Mansoojat documentary. Guests were introduced to the regional diversity, craftsmanship and cultural narratives embedded[...]
From 22–24 November 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the National Wedding Festival held at the Hilton Hotel in Jeddah. The festival was organised by the First Women's Welfare Society and celebrated the diversity of wedding traditions and cultural heritage across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of the programme, Mansoojat presented[...]
The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the National Wedding Festival, organised by the First Women's Welfare Society, with examples of two wedding processions from different regions in Saudi Arabia: the first from Jizan on the 22nd of November and the second from the Bani Sa'ad tribe on the 23rd of November.[...]
On 24 February 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum held at the Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center in Jeddah. The forum brought together regional and international leaders, business figures, and cultural organisations to discuss economic development and the future of the region. Mansoojat’s participation highlighted[...]
In February 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum at the Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center. Within the setting of this major international forum, The Mansoojat Foundation presented traditional Saudi costume and textile heritage to delegates and global visitors. The display highlighted regional craftsmanship, embroidery traditions[...]
