The Mansoojat Foundation Collection
The Mansoojat Foundation is a UK-registered charity established by a group of Saudi Arabian women who share a deep interest in the traditional costumes and heritage of Saudi Arabia. The foundation’s mission is to preserve and revive the traditional costumes, textiles, and embroidery of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; to promote and conduct academic research on the history and culture of the region; and to raise public awareness of this unique heritage.
The Mansoojat Foundation has amassed a collection of approximately 1,400 costume items, many of which have required extensive restoration. This collection showcases the rich diversity of traditional costumes, reflecting their social, geographical, and cultural contexts.
Documenting and classifying these costumes has involved years of meticulous research, field trips, and consultations with both academics and local experts. Given the vast regional diversity within Saudi Arabia, the foundation chose to collaborate with specialists from each region, leveraging their deep understanding of local history, culture, and traditions.
The costumes in the Mansoojat collection are organized by both tribal affiliation and geographical location, highlighting the unique cultural tapestry of Saudi Arabia. The geographical coverage of the collection varies, with some regions being more richly represented than others, based on the availability of costumes from donations and field trips.
The Mansoojat Foundation aims to provide an important introduction to the traditional costumes and heritage of Saudi Arabia, inspiring continued preservation and research efforts in this field.
Recent Collection Articles
Explore & discover the splendour of our collection
Harb thobe with an embroidered yoke
Harb tribe Harb thobe with an embroidered yoke surrounded by handmade nacre buttons and a patchwork hem. The sleeves are long, always in two colours and triangular in shape. The headdress is decorated with buttons. The great oasis in the lava-flows of the northern Hijaz, known as al-Madinah al-Munawwarah or[...]
Rashaidah thobe with patchwork decoration
Rashaidah Tribe Rashaidah thobe with patchwork decoration on the front, back and the right sleeve. The long burqu' (face mask) is embroidered with silver thread and has a fringe. The mountains of Jabal Shammar shield northern Najd from the sands of the Great Nafud desert. Grazing is good and the[...]
Rashaidah thobe of multicoloured patchwork
Rashaidah tribe Rashaidah thobe of multicoloured patchwork. The velvet (bukhnuq) headdress has a panel in the back and is embroidered with metal beads in geometric patterns. The mountains of Jabal Shammar shield northern Najd from the sands of the Great Nafud desert. Grazing is good and the area was famed[...]
Najd, Central Region and Eastern Region thobe of fine Indian silk
Najd and Central Region Najd, Central Region and Eastern Region thobe of fine Indian silk embroidered with sequins and gold thread. The sleeves are voluminous and are brought around to cover the head. Central Saudi Arabia, or Najd, is a land of desert, escarpment and oases. Traditionally, this region has[...]
Qassim thick wool woman’s aba
Qassim, Northern Region Qassim thick wool woman's aba (cloak) embroidered with gold thread and having elaborate gold thread tassels. This type of aba is for the bride to wear on her wedding night. The mountains of Jabal Shammar shield northern Najd from the sands of the Great Nafud desert. Grazing[...]