A global citizen invested in the preservation of Arab culture. A person who believes in The Zay Initiative’s mission and objectives. Someone who is interested in expanding their understanding of Arab culture, and so, feels called to support The Zay Initiative's work in preserving heritage.
We invite you to join our community and support sustaining our work by becoming a Friend of The Zay Initiative. Enter our Gateway to Arab Dress hosted on Patreon by choosing one of these four pathways:
Choose Your Friendship Tier

$20 / £15
Price per Month
$225 / £162
Price per Year
(10% discount)
- Complimentary access to all ZI Webinars
- Access to the webinar recordings to view at your leisure via the Zay Initiative Library.

$65 / £50
Price per Month
$748 / £540
Price per Year
(10% discount)
- Complimentary access to all ZI Webinars
- Complimentary access to the ZI recording library including the podcast and research papers. (Launching April 2021)
- 15% discount on any ZI live event ticket for you and up to 5 friends
- 10% discount on limited edition prints
- Priority booking window on limited ticket events
- Invitation to partner events throughout the year
- Listed on our website as ZI Friend (TALLĪ)

$250 / £200
Price per Month
$2,991 /£2,160
Price per Year
(10% discount)
- Complimentary access to all ZI Webinars.
- Complimentary access to the ZI recording library including podcasts and research papers.(Launch April 2021).
- 20% discount on any ZI live event ticket for you and up to 10 friends.
- 20% discount on limited edition prints.
- Priority booking window on limited ticket events.
- Invitation to partner events throughout the year for you and a guest.
- Listed on our website as ZI Friend (ZARĪ) with photograph.
- Complimentary copy of Sultani: Traditions renewed (while stock lasts).

£3
Price per Month
$45 / £32.40
Price per Year
(10% discount)
- Only for students and academia
- Complimentary access to all ZI Webinars
- Complimentary access to the Zay Initiative recording library to including the podcast and research papers. (Launch April 2021)
If you are a student or member of the academic profession, we also have a special category at just £3 a month.
ID will need to be sent to the Zay Initiative following sign up.
Friends of The Zay Initiative:





- Aida Kassissieh
- Catherine Price
- Cultured Focus Magazine
- G Lykins
- Joelle Firzli
- Tarek Horani
- Yousuf Al Shirawi
Collecting cultural heritage, dress and adornment, means gathering together a bountiful rich resource that is often under threat of being lost or misconstrued due to lack of accurate documentation. Through the preservation of these pieces, The Zay Initiative plays a significant role in fortifying, encapsulating and sustaining a small but important part of Arab history.
Becoming a Zay Initiative Custodian of Dress is an alternative way of contributing to The Zay Initiative’s mission of sustaining Arab dress heritage. For a onetime fee of £50 you become the custodian of an article of dress for one year. Your patronage will support our research team to document and preserve our growing collection and make it available for study through the digital archive. By sponsoring an article of dress from The Zay Initiative’s collection in your name, in the name of your friend or a loved one, you can contribute to the protection and documentation of Arab historical attire and their stories.
As recognition for your valuable support and contribution, you will receive:
– A Photo of the dress
– Your name displayed alongside the article of dress in our digital archive
After one year you will have the option to renew your role as custodian or pass it on to someone else.
For more information, please contact [email protected]