A wedding dress from the southern city of Maan is representing Jordan in the especially curated “Brides of the Arab World” exhibit, which brings together more than 40 elaborate and colorful dresses traditionally worn by brides throughout the 22 Arab countries.

The Maan wedding ensemble is from the private collection of Widad Kawar, who during the past five decades has amassed one of the largest collections of costumes from Jordan and Palestine.

Kawar is internationally renowned for her efforts to research, collect, and preserve traditional Arab handwork, and is credited with saving many regional costumes from disappearing completely.