Home to some of the world’s most rapidly developing economies, Middle Eastern culture and society has experienced unprecedented changes in recent times; changes which have been graciously embraced by the local population. In these fast-changing times, entities such as The Zay Initiative have become indispensable cultural treasures.
Founded by Dr. Reem Tariq El Mutwalli, The Zay Initiative is a unique, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Arab heritage through the documentation and conservation of traditional clothing from the MENA region. Boasting a collection of over 700 articles of traditional clothing items dating all the way back to the 1950’s, The Zay Initiative’s archives document the socio-economic changes in the region from the pre-oil era all the way through to today.
Starting October 2019, The Zay Initiative will be launching its digital archive, a free-of-charge portal that will allow people to browse the organization’s extensive collection, thereby launching the region’s first historical fashion resource for research, reference and academia. Supported by a monthly blog, the digital archive seeks to create a public platform that bridges cultures, embraces regional heritage and fosters dialogue between the public and Zay's expert advisory circle.
The digital archive will be accessible through the organization's website: thezay.org
