Keffiyeh Scarf

[cheepmunk]

I really like the kahfiyah-inspired patterns, but I'm still squicked by the commercialism associated with the scarves.

Originally Posted by xmodel_citizen

I don't find it acceptable to take the traditions of another culture and mass-market it to people who have no idea about the culture.

Yeah, exactly. I think I would actually be okay with people who like the kahfiyah pattern wearing the scarf because they find it attractive, as long as they knew something about where it came from and why others wear it. I guess what it comes down to is that I believe that fashion (or anything, really) should not be solely about personal gratification, but that it should come with some social responsibility as well.

Originally Posted by morgan38

I personally would never wear this scarf...and not because I don't like the design or because I'm overwhelmingly pro-Israel. Politics is a touchy subject, and I wouldn't want to offend anyone or make a bad impression by wearing the scarf...especially in a professional setting.

I agree with you completely. Whatever one's reasons for wearing the scarf, the absolute last place it belongs is in a profesisonal setting. I've had to work in environments in which political discussions were rampant, and it's very difficult to have an employer or a group of co-workers shove their political views -- whatever they may be -- in your face. I know people often don't mean anything by it, but can still be frustrating.

(Sorry about my last post, Lena. I got a little carried away. I won't do it again. Well, I'll try my hardest not to. )

[UNiQFashionista]

celine- im saudi- born and bred..
what mde you think im lebanese?

[CelineChic]

Originally Posted by UNiQFashionista

celine- im saudi- born and bred..
what mde you think im lebanese?

I'm also Saudi but born in Paris. For some reason I thought I read a post where you said that you were Lebanese. I'm probably thinking about someone else on TFS.

[missy-t1]

I wear my keffiyah (the Palestinian one- the patterns are slightly different) I love it.. keeps you cool and warm the material is really soft too
But my family take the mick and say I might get attacked one day.. ! :S

[contiguous]

I was under the impression that Urban Outfitters had stopped selling their "anti-war" keffiyah with a statement and all, yet they are back on the mannequins in different colors and being sold again. Why go back on their recall from a few months ago?

[Alexandra8715]

argh i sympathise with everyone who thinks this trend is really shallow and annoying. 3 of my friends have taken to wearing the trendy Urban outfitters modified ones. I mentioned something about the scarf's significance to my friend when I saw her wearing hers for the first time thinking that she might know what it meant. Alas, she just looked at me blankly. I'm not going to bother with the other two.
I think it's a symptom of Western culture's materialism which in my opinion has gotten worse (probs somethign to do with all that rubbish NME/Myspace stuff) People don't care about what things mean anymore, it's just about looking cool.

(I think my signiture succinctly explains what I mean)

[kisa]

You can't expect everyone to know what every symbol means. They saw something being offered to them in a store, liked it, and bought it. I assume everyone here also buys things in stores without doing EXTENSIVE research of the origin of the garment's design or manufacture. Why is this scarf so special that everyone who wears it just for fashion is considered so shallow? I think assuming someone's political views and morality based on a scarf is shallow.

[Lena]

we are determined to keep this discussion cooled down,
please respect other member's views, appreciated

[Alexandra8715]

kisa the fact is that the kaffiyah scarf has massive political significance and the fact that most people are ignorant of this is testament to the way in which western fashion exploits something that had meaning into a money making device.
I'm not blaming the people who wear it without realising what it means. It's not their fault that they arent aware if it. It's just capitalism.

Also, I don't think there is any other 'trendy' garment out there which has anywhere near the same political significance as the kaffiyah. therefore it makes sense that we don't do massive research into the origins of the smock dress lol.

[Alexandra8715]

ooh actually sorry for the double post but it would be interesting if people came up with other items of clothing that have been in fashion but that also have political significance.

(I can't actually think of any though)

[kisa]

Originally Posted by Alexandra8715

kisa the fact is that the kaffiyah scarf has massive political significance and the fact that most people are ignorant of this is testament to the way in which western fashion exploits something that had meaning into a money making device.
I'm not blaming the people who wear it without realising what it means. It's not their fault that they arent aware if it. It's just capitalism.

Also, I don't think there is any other 'trendy' garment out there which has anywhere near the same political significance as the kaffiyah. therefore it makes sense that we don't do massive research into the origins of the smock dress lol.

I'm not going to bother any further with the politics and economics discussion, because it's against the rules of this forum.

About the smock dresses though, smocking was a utilitarian way of sewing that was forced out of fashion during the industrial revolution, due to the dangers of wearing voluminous clothing in terrible working conditions. Of course, smocking was later taken up by the gentry as fashion. Hmm sounds like rich people abused the disenfranchised and stole their clothes! DAMN THOSE MATERIALISTIC GENTRY!

Some other clothes I can think of for you with political significance are:
Pants (french revolution)
Moccasins (commercialization of first nations culture)

[xmodel citizen]

^ Yes, but moccasins are often made by Native Americans themselves, which I think vastly differs from a major Western retail chain like UO modifying and manufacturing (dishonestly at first) to a mostly western audience. Moccasins are among other traditional NA symbols that are modified and manufactured to sustain the income and culture of the people themselves. While exploitation within the culture itself is just as harmful IMO, at least part of the money goes to the people of that specific culture.

[tangerine]

Originally Posted by Alexandra8715

ooh actually sorry for the double post but it would be interesting if people came up with other items of clothing that have been in fashion but that also have political significance.

(I can't actually think of any though)

Che Guevara tee shirts, Mao caps and jackets, camouflage of all sorts, German WWII uniform-inspired black jackets and peaked caps, the use of swastikas by first wave punk rockers... I'm sure there are many more, those are just off the top of my head. However, this is not the topic.

Once again: we are here to discuss the keffiyeh as a fashion item. We will not be having political debate. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated.

[cheepmunk]

I don't think it's shallow to wear a kahfiyah solely for fashion, or in spite of the political statement it makes. I thinks it's shallow not to know that the kahfiyah makes a political statement. If someone considers that information and decides that it's not relevant to them or to their life, fine. But fashion or personal expression should never be used as an excuse for ignorance.

ETA: Eek! Sorry! I hope this is still sufficiently on topic.

[cosmicangel]

the kafiyya scarf is so popular in egypt but noone wears it to look good, i mean noone wears it like any other scarf when they are going out or something, it is usually worn when people go to make a safari in Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, they wear it to cover their faces to protect it from the strong sand of egypt's desert.
here are some pics:




source: all pics are of me or my friends taken by our cams or mobiles.