How to wear a keffiyeh: 3 styles with step-by-step photos

During the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt, British authorities attempted to ban the keffiyeh in Palestine.

Rebels wore it to conceal their identities during operations, making it a target for British control. In response, Palestinian commanders ordered everyone to wear it. Urban professionals swapped their fez hats for the farmer's scarf, and within a month, eight out of ten fezzes had been replaced by keffiyehs.

When identification became impossible, the scarf became resistance. That's what the keffiyeh has always done. It adapts. It persists. And nearly a century later, it remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Palestinian identity worldwide - whether you call it a keffiyeh, kufiya, shemagh, or hatta.

But here's the problem: many people who want to wear one might not know about the different ways it can be worn. This post gives you three essential styles with step-by-step photos, plus the history and sourcing information to wear it with intention.

What is a keffiyeh?

The keffiyeh (also spelled kufiya, or called shemagh or hatta depending on region) is a traditional square cotton scarf, typically 42-48 inches. The Palestinian version is instantly recognizable by its black-and-white checkered pattern with fishnet weave, bold lines, and olive leaf motifs woven throughout.

Each of these design choices have meaning behind them. The fishnet honors Palestinian fishermen and their Mediterranean connection. The bold lines trace historic trade routes throughout the region. The olive leaves root the wearer to the land itself - a symbol of peace, resilience, and agricultural heritage that predates modern borders.

You'll also see red-and-white keffiyehs (traditional in Jordan), solid colors, and contemporary variations. The black-and-white remains most associated with Palestinian national identity.

A brief history of the keffiyeh

The keffiyeh's roots stretch back centuries. Bedouin tribes and Palestinian farmers (fellahin) wore it for protection against sun, wind, and sand. During Ottoman rule, it marked the wearer as rural, contrasting the red tarboosh worn by urban elites.

The 1936-1939 Arab Revolt catalyzed it. As Palestinians rose against British colonial rule, the keffiyeh became uniform - and target. British authorities banned it to identify rebels. The response: everyone wore it.

When identification became impossible, the scarf became resistance.

Yasser Arafat cemented its symbolism in the 1960s. As PLO chairman, he was rarely seen without it, famously draping the fabric over his right shoulder in the shape of historic Palestine.

From 1967 until the Oslo Accords in 1993, Israel banned the Palestinian flag in Gaza and the West Bank. The keffiyeh served as a wearable flag - identity when the actual symbol was forbidden.

Today, the keffiyeh signals solidarity at protests worldwide, appears in fashion collections (sometimes controversially), and remains daily dress across the Arab world.

Which brings us back to the crux of this post: If you want to wear it with intention, you need to know how. The following three styles range from casual everyday wear to traditional coverage, each with step-by-step instructions. Choose based on climate, comfort, and what feels right for you.

How to wear a keffiyeh

Below are three essential styles, ranging from casual to traditional. Each includes step-by-step photos so you can see exactly how to achieve the look.

Style 1: The classic neck drape

Best for: Everyday wear, layering, beginners

This is the easiest and most common way to wear a keffiyeh outside of the Middle East. It works with anything, keeps your neck warm, and requires zero technique.

Step 1: Fold the keffiyeh in half diagonally to form a triangle.

Step 2: Drape the folded edge around the back of your neck, with the triangle point hanging down in front.

Step 3: Let both ends fall forward over your chest. Adjust so the ends are roughly equal length.

Step 4: (Optional) For a snugger fit, cross the ends once in front and tuck them back behind.

Style 2: The traditional head wrap

Best for: Sun protection, cultural expression, full coverage

This is the most iconic way to wear a keffiyeh and resembles what you've seen in photographs of Palestinian leaders, farmers, and families across the Arab world.

Step 1: Fold the keffiyeh in half diagonally to form a triangle.

Step 2: Place the folded edge across your forehead, just above your eyebrows. The triangle point should hang down your back.

Step 3: Take both ends and let them fall over your shoulders. They should be roughly equal length.

Step 4: Wrap both ends around the back of your head and tie them securely, or tuck them in.

Step 5: (Optional) For a more formal look, secure with an agal - the black cord traditionally used to hold the keffiyeh in place.

Style 3: The face wrap

Best for: Outdoor protection, dust and wind, bold look

This style offers the most coverage, protecting your face from sun, sand, and dust. It's the wrapping method traditionally used by those working outdoors in harsh conditions, and it's also become associated with protesters and those making a visible statement.

Step 1: Fold the keffiyeh in half diagonally to form a triangle.

Step 2: Place the folded edge across your forehead. Position one end to be slightly longer than the other.

Step 3: Take the shorter end and wrap it under your chin toward the opposite side. Hold it in place at the back of your head.

Step 4: Take the longer end and wrap it across your face, covering your nose and mouth. Pull it toward the back of your head.

Step 5: Tie both ends together at the back of your head. Make sure the wrap isn't too tight - you should be able to breathe and move comfortably.

Where to buy an authentic Palestinian keffiyeh

Not all keffiyehs are made equal. Most on the market come from factories in China - functional, but disconnected from the garment's origins. If you want your purchase to support Palestinian makers directly, two factories still produce keffiyehs on the ground:

Hirbawi Textiles - Hebron, Palestine

The last keffiyeh factory in Palestine for decades, and still the most recognized. Founded in 1961 by Yasser Hirbawi, it nearly collapsed after cheap Chinese imports flooded the market post-Oslo. By 2010, production had dropped from 150,000 scarves annually to just 10,000.

The family rebuilt. With support from Made In Palestine and direct-to-consumer sales through kufiya.org, Hirbawi now trains new artisans and exports globally.

Each scarf is woven on original looms, threads cut manually, tassels added by hand. Yasser Hirbawi passed away in 2018. His sons, Izzat, Abdullah, and Jouda, continue the work.

Al-Nabulsi / Nablus Textile Factory - Nablus, Palestine

Founded in 1950 by Marwan Al-Nabulsi (known locally as Abu Bassam), the factory originally produced school uniforms, wool sweaters, and keffiyehs.

Like many Palestinian businesses, the Israeli occupation's restrictions on movement and access to raw materials forced its closure in 1985. For nearly four decades, the factory sat dormant.

In late 2023, the Nablus Textile Factory resumed operations. Their keffiyehs are handmade on antique looms and available through PaliRoots and Hala Palestine. Their revival story is still being written.

Falasteen Streetwear - Accessible everyday option

Not everyone needs a $60 handwoven keffiyeh for daily wear. If you're looking for an affordable option for workouts, protests, or casual layering, Falasteen Streetwear offers keffiyehs designed for accessibility.

Our approach is different: we use contemporary production methods to keep costs down, then donate 100% of profits to vetted nonprofits working directly in Palestine. You get a wearable symbol at an everyday price point. Palestinian communities get funded aid.

Shop keffiyehs →

For a deeper look at donation transparency and brand authenticity, read our complete guide to Palestine clothing.

FAQ

What's the difference between a keffiyeh and a shemagh?

They're the same garment with regional naming variations. "Keffiyeh" (or kufiya) is most common in Palestine and the Levant. "Shemagh" is traditional in the Gulf and among military communities. The shemagh kufiya is sometimes described as thicker and more tactical, while the Palestinian keffiyeh is lighter for daily wear, but the terms are often interchangeable.

Can non-Palestinians wear a keffiyeh?

Yes, and Palestinians have consistently said so. The keffiyeh is a symbol of solidarity, and wearing it with understanding of its history is an act of support, not appropriation. What matters is intention: wearing it because you learned what it means, not because it's a trend. If you're reading this post, you're already doing it right.

What do the different colors mean?

The black-and-white keffiyeh is most associated with Palestine and has become the symbol of Palestinian nationalism. Red-and-white is traditional in Jordan and other parts of the Arab world. Today, keffiyehs come in many colors, from olive green to pink, allowing for personal expression while maintaining the traditional patterns.

Wear it with meaning

The keffiyeh survived a British ban in 1938 by becoming ubiquitous. It survived decades of cheap knockoffs by maintaining cultural weight. It survives today because people like you learn what it means before wearing it.

That's the difference between solidarity and costume.

If you're looking for a keffiyeh for everyday wear, Falasteen Streetwear offers accessible options. For authentic Palestinian-made scarves, support Hirbawi or Al-Nabulsi via PaliRoots. For more ways to wear your values, read our complete guide to Palestine clothing.

100% of Falasteen Streetwear's profits fund vetted nonprofits in Palestine. Track our impact, vote on where funds go twice a year on Instagram, and join a community refusing erasure through every tool available.