The keffiyeh, also known as a hatta, is a traditional headdress worn by Arab men to protect themselves from the sun and sand. Made from cotton, this square piece of cloth is folded into a triangle and draped or wrapped around the head in various styles. Sometimes it is held in place with an agal, a circle made of rope placed on top of the head.

Since the fashion industry embraced it, the unique checked patterned scarf can be found in a variety of colors, but the original, traditional keffiyeh is either black/white, red/white, or plain white. The black/white colors are most closely associated with Palestinian nationalism, the red/white with Jordan, and the plain white is used mostly in the Gulf States.

Although the keffiyeh is simply part of the traditional dress of Arab nations, it has become synonymous with terrorism - a deeply incorrect notion.

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Text: Jackie Sawiris; Image: Ilana Fayerman