Keffiyeh Scarf

[kisa]

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]

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.

 

[missy-t1]

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.

some of the items you described i do not know of..
so can we have a topic where we can discuss politics and fashion and keep this one solely for discussing how to wear keffiyah, what colours etc?

 

[tangerine]

some of the items you described i do not know of..
so can we have a topic where we can discuss politics and fashion and keep this one solely for discussing how to wear keffiyah, what colours etc?

Well... as stated in the guidelines...

...

1. Absolutely no discussions of politics is allowed. As we all come from different parts of the world with varying liberal and conservative views, an attack or offensive comment against another nation, a head of state or international and national policies of other nations only leads to disputes -- all of which have nothing to do with fashion.

So, we will not be having any political discussions on tFS.

We can, however, discuss the fashion aspects of the keffiyeh in this thread to our hearts' content.

 

[missy-t1]

OK. Never mind! But can you please explain what Mao caps and jackets are? Also pics of wave punk rockers wearing swastikas :|

And where might I find a Che tshirt?

 

[jpolla]

Mao Cap, after general Mao

Sid Vicious With swastika t shirt
edit: actually that's Johnny Rotten, not Sid, and as a historical note, the shirt was designed by Vivienne Westwood.

Che Guevara t shirt.
All pictures. Punkrockerfashi.com

 

[jpolla]

P.S Dont wear any of the above

 

[kanita]

I'm glad this trend seems to be over.

 

[caramelhoney]

Really? I went back to NY a few weeks ago to visit my family and I actually found people wearing them on the East Side of all places.

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

I still love my scarf .... but need ideas on how to tie it and what outfits to wear it with? It's winter over here now so any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[kanita]

Really? I went back to NY a few weeks ago to visit my family and I actually found people wearing them on the East Side of all places.

hmm, here in Holland it's really over now.

 

[caramelhoney]

hmm, here in Holland it's really over now.

That's cool I was just making a statement based on what I observed. I actually never paid attention to the trend because I recently moved to Dallas and I haven't seen it over here. I wasn't even aware of it until I went home a few weeks ago the trend pop up on the Upper East Side....which is the last place I would expect to see them. The UES is the anti-thesis to what the scarf represents, whether politically or fashion-wise for that matter. Then again if a trend is hitting that neighborhood then it's probably a sign that the trend will be over until it's revived again later on.

 

[TripHop_Diva]

Here in the UAE its called 'Ghutra', in Saudi Arabia its called 'Shumagh'.

Men usually wear them in this part of the world with what we call a 'Kandora'. The ones worn in my country (UAE) are usually red&white, beige&brown, or just plain white, but never black&white.

It is worn here in two different ways:
*photos removed*

Images from www.uae4mp3.com

Sheikh Hamdan is so hot. Those pics of him are so cool.

 

[julesrules815]

I saw a girl at my school wearing a scarf with a similar pattern, but I don't know if it would be considered a kahfiyah scarf. What is the "criteria" that makes a specific scarf a kahfiyah scarf? Does any scarf with a middle-eastern pattern count as one?

 

[AD073018]

I have a Keffiyeh Israelit and I love it dearly. It's embroidered with Stars of David, blue on white. It was sent to me by an Israeli cousin who wears hers to protect against the sun and sand. I live in a cold climate so I wear mine for warmth. It gets lots of double takes and questions but I don't mind. I'm proud of my culture and it's such a beautiful item (as well as practical) that I know I'll never part with it.

 

[Alexandra8715]

^that scarf sounds lovely.

 

[Kimkhuu]

eitherway, i thought it was interesting that urbanoutfitters sells them in every single colour way

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