Since scarves are such a hot-selling accessory at Betty's right now, we decided to blog about them today, but, after doing some on-line research, we discovered that a particular scarf known as the keffiyeh is an item of fashion and political debate.
According to Wikipedia...
"As with other articles of clothing worn in wartime, such as the T-shirt and khaki pants, the keffiyeh has been seen as chic among non-Arabs in the West, who may be uninterested in politics, the military, or both.
Keffiyehs became popular in the United States in the late 1980s, at the start of the First Intifada, when bohemian girls wore keffiyehs as scarves around their necks. In the early 2000s, keffiyehs were very popular among youths in Tokyo, who often wore them with camouflage clothing. The trend recurred in the mid-2000s in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia, when the keffiyeh became popular as a fashion accessory, usually worn as a scarf around the neck in hipster circles. Stores such as TALIBANANA.COM and TopShop stocked the item. (After some controversy, however, Urban Outfitters pulled the item.) In spring 2008, keffiyehs in colours like purple and mauve were given away in issues of fashion magazines in Spain and France.
In mid-2000s New York City, non-Arabs tended to wear keffiyehs in one of three ways. Pro-Palestinian activists wore them loosely draped over their shoulders. World-music aficionados wore them as regular, bunched scarves around their necks (as did girls in the 1980s). Finally, hipsters folded them in half to make a triangle, then gathered the scarf around the neck to leave one point facing down in the center of the chest. New keffiyeh designs with Israeli motifs are sold since 2007."
According to Betty...
Fashion often reflects the political climate of a country or the world. There is a theory that hemlines rise and fall according to the economy. T-shirts were first worn by soldiers, and denim invented originally for men who needed sturdy work pants. Fashion has been influenced, whether consciously or not, by history, politics, media, and global awareness. We support making a fashion statement by looking good and sporting your own style. We support equality and humane treatment for all beings. We support being conscious while having fun with fashion.
In conclusion, hipsters are not terrorists.
2 comments:
I was one of those girls in the 1980s (and '90s). I remember the controversy when I was living in Berkeley. We called them Palestinian rebel scarves. Mine was purple and white ....
Hipsters...ugh.
"Well, I was wearing burkas BEFORE it was cool...and I have a Fleet Foxes demo tape".
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