Keffiyeh

The keffiyeh originated as a light cloth worn to protect against the harsh desert or from the cold in the winter. It has since evolved into a symbol of Palestinian nationalism. Please note… please, please note that is is NOT a symbol of radical Islam, rather a secular piece of clothing that has come to symbolize remembrance and solidarity.

It’s difficult to pinpoint when the keffiyeh was created but it has historically been worn as a utilitarian headscarf by Bedouin Arabs in the summer and winter to protect themselves from the sunburn, sand, dust and cold weather while working outdoors. The scarf is made of a light cotton material (some are made with blended cotton-wool material) and can be wrapped around the head like a turban, or it can be worn loosely with the material draped around the shoulders.

The color and pattern of the material of a keffiyeh can identify the nationality and/or tribe of the person wearing it. A plain white keffiyeh is popularly worn in the Gulf States (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman), and is fastened with a rope-like band (called agal in Arabic) that keeps the keffiyeh around the head while the material drapes around the back and shoulders. Jordanians have their own keffiyeh which is called a shemagh. The shemagh usually comes in a checkered pattern and typically comes in red and white.

The keffiyeh became a symbol of Palestinian nationalism during the revolt against the British Mandate in the 1930s. (Quick history lesson: The British Mandate legalized the temporary rule of Palestine by Great Britain from 1923 to 1948.) During that time the keffiyeh rose to symbolize Palestinian nationalism and the class struggle between the rural Bedouin tribes and the urban Palestinians, who wore the Ottoman fez. In the 1960s, the keffiyeh again became a symbol of Palestinian solidarity and liberation, when it was worn by Palestinian leaders and guerrilla fighters during the Palestinian resistance movement. Since then, the Palestinian keffiyeh, with its black and white checkered pattern, has been worn around the head or neck to show support with the Palestinian people.

There’s only one factory left in Palestine/Israel that makes keffiyehs, the Hirbawi factory, located in the West Bank city of Hebron. Factories in China now mass produce the keffiyeh for both Middle Eastern and Western markets. This became a huge issue in 2007 when Urban Outfitters and Balenciaga sold the keffiyeh as a fashionable accessory. There is an embroidery cooperative in Hebron, “Women in Hebron,” that creates Palestinian handicrafts and apparel, including keffiyehs.
TL;DR: The keffiyeh is a utilitarian scarf worn by Bedouin Arabs to protect from hot and cold weather. It later became a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. It is NOT a symbol of radical Islam, rather a piece of clothing meant to support Palestinian nationalism.

Check out these resources on keffiyehs:
http://www.umich.edu/~leadmag/mar10featureskef.html
http://www.iamhiphopmagazine.com/the-keffiyeh-symbol-of-re…/
https://notwhatyoumightthink.wordpress.com/…/thinking-alou…/
http://bennorton.com/white-people-wearing-the-keffiyeh-sol…/
http://www.nytimes.com/…/…/11/fashion/shows/11KAFFIYEH.html…
http://womeninhebron.com

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