The keffiyah, 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 of rope placed on top of the head.

Now embraced by the fashion industry, the checker patterned scarf can be found in a variety of colors, though the original, traditional keffiyah 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.

The keffiyah is simply part of the traditional dress of Arab nations. It is a misconception to associate it with terrorism.

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Text: Jackie Sawiris; Image: Ilana Fayerman