posted by dHOMMEc
Apr 07, 2008 3:47PM
As a person who has been over the fringed scarf trend for, oh i dont know, about one minute after the fall 2007 Balenciaga show I am actually happy to see them in Abercrombie so maybe people can wake up and stop wearing them and thinking there so chic.
posted by adristar
Apr 07, 2008 3:51PM
well that's not exactly the palestinian scarf.... and it's already on mall kids! has been for at least a year! i live in ontario, and i've seen ones made with sparkly gold threading, and in purple and pink - which is far more ridiculous.
and - do kids/people in general know where their clothes are coming from at all? whether it's a ripoff from another designer's collection, or from a sweatshop, or if it's representative of a political struggle.
posted by miss_k
Apr 07, 2008 3:56PM
Only in terror-fied America do people make a big deal out of these scarves. People wear them left, right and centre in Canada and Europe--controversy free!
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 4:00PM
..they sell these in Hollister too. Its a light blue one I think tho'
posted by kijjalyn
Apr 07, 2008 4:02PM
They also sell them at Target for $12.99. It think it is officially passe.
posted by hipstersdontlie
Apr 07, 2008 4:03PM
Yeah come on, it's not like a Nazi symbol on a jacket or something.
posted by andremichael
Apr 07, 2008 4:06PM
they also sell these on arbitrary street corners in NYC. i mean.. at this point, why not, abercrombie? lol.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 4:12PM
I don't know the meaning behind the scarf. But I have seen it everywhere.. probably since last season.. but before checkered scarves, there were silk scarves that could be worn this way.. Could someone fill me in on the meaning behind the scarf?
posted by anna_muffin
Apr 07, 2008 4:27PM
Well, I'm from Europe and it's true that people have been wearing these scarves for some time now...and a lot of people, too...and of course, everyone should be allowed to wear whatever they want...but people wearing these scarves definitely lose points in my eyes.
posted by poseur
Apr 07, 2008 4:39PM
while this one looks more like a tablecloth, the original: i am sick of it, to be honest-and I am middle eastern, I've seen it many times but now everywhere is saturated with it! I started counting how many of them I see throughout the day. Is this the only scarf that could be described "ethnic"? NO! There are tons of options, and people keep buying it over and over again.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 4:42PM
I don't see the shemagh as a political statement or anything. Obviously it's like fairly synonymous with a certain part of the world, but it's standard issue for every armed force in the world for desert combat. Keeps out sand and sun etc.
It's functional.
heh.
posted by missryanm
Apr 07, 2008 4:48PM
My palestinian-american roomate spotted them at Urban and thought it was hilarous.
Seems a little off-trend for Abercrombie, unless they're trying new ways to court controversy.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 4:49PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keffiyeh#Symbol_of_Palestinian_solidarity.3F
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 4:53PM
I still love my keffiyeh scarf, but I am so sick of seeing everyone in school wearing them. I think it is because %95 of them don't understand what the heck it stands for.
I even saw them in Urban Behavior!!
posted by hannah
Apr 07, 2008 4:54PM
Yeah, I actually have one (100% identical to the UO black and white checked one) that I got at Claire's. But I wouldn't pay $40 for the A&F one! I actually really can't see people who wear all Abercrombie wearing this scarf though....
posted by kijjalyn
Apr 07, 2008 4:55PM
Basically, it has been associated with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as a symbol of allegience with Palestine, partially because of Yasser Arafat, who was almost always photographed wearing one. It is sort of an unofficial symbol on Palestine.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 5:02PM
i would make snid comments to the manager of urban outfitters when they started carrying them back in 2006, like "Oh, i guess you are all for palestine then?" i wish people where more socially conscious but it doesn't even matter now because it is so saturated in the market.
posted by ARitchNYC
Apr 07, 2008 5:11PM
I also agree with dHOMMEc. It is only a matter of time before these scarfs go through the lower department store ranks (yes, lower than where they are now). I suppose the process takes time, but eventually this cliche, not-so-chic item will become a thing of the past.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 5:22PM
For 4:12pm, tt's a keffiyeh--which is what Palestinians traditionally wear and is associated with the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Org) and Yasser Arafat. He's always wearing one in pictures. That's why its politically charged.
posted by Lindsaysue12
Apr 07, 2008 5:34PM
psssh I could care less if a scarf is a trend or not. If its cold outside, which it typically is here in MN, I'll wear a scarf.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 6:04PM
i totally agree.. spring 07 i desperately wnated to have one and felt all cool wearing it and now absolutely everyone is wearing an h and m rip of..
posted by lentil
Apr 07, 2008 6:07PM
The pattern is completely off (essentially a tablecloth check)... so way to strip it of meaning for middle American consumption!
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 6:08PM
what makes it a keffiyeh? is it the pattern, or the color? because i'm pretty sure that's not the traditional pattern. if it is far enough, i think it is fine.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 6:51PM
Speaking of people not knowing the origins of things...
It's "whoa." W-H-O-A. It's in the dictionary and everything! It's what one says to a horse to make it stop. It was made popular as a phrase to express general amazement or wonder in the 80s and 90s mainly by Keanu Reeves (see Bill & Ted's) and Joey Lawrence (see Blossom).
I deeply appreciate your reviving this most awesome word, but PLEASE -- spell it right already!
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 7:04PM
only the black and white ones are associated with PLO, not other colors. But the pattern is a generic middle eastern one.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 7:25PM
oh, wow, i did not read all comments, but in germany the mall kids wear it!!!! :-D
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 7:29PM
every girl in england that set foot in a primark was wearing this last october. i bought mine from an islamic website over 2 years ago. the shark hath been jumped.
posted by guest
Apr 07, 2008 9:40PM
WHEN WILL THESE DIE ?!?!?!?!
(but it's okay if you genuinely believe in the sentiments behind it)
posted by cassie
Apr 07, 2008 11:09PM
a few weeks ago i (rather ignorantly) purchased this keffiyeh-esque scarf from isabel marant...does anyone know the one i'm talking about? she had it on almost every look in her spring '08 show. i haven't worn it yet, mainly because i can't seem to be able to walk down the street here in boston without seeing some version of it. however i always like to wear a scarf and finding one in a light weight fabric was so appealing...if anyone knows the one i'm talking about will they let me know their opinion, is this particular one too trendy?!
posted by lentil
Apr 07, 2008 11:53PM
"the shark hath been jumped."
so true. this is the modern-day equivalent of the solidarnosc teeshirt i grew up with. wikipedia it if you are too young or don't remember.
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 12:12AM
Okay I hate how mainstream this is getting because now I feel trendy having one. I didn't even know this was starting to become a trend but I remember as a kid back in the 90's the middle eastern vendors used to sell these on the streets in Brooklyn, so when I found one a year ago I bought it out of nostalgia...
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 2:18AM
The keffiyeh is part of the general Israeli-Arab controversy, supporters of the Palestinian cause see the keffiyeh as a symbol of a just cause, while some others see the keffiyeh as representing anti-Seimitism, terrorism, or the intention to eliminate the Jewish State. In 2007, the American clothing store chain, Urban Outfitters, stopped selling keffiyehs because of fear that selling them might be seen “to imply any sympathy for or support of terrorists or terrorism.” [5] The Independent calls the keffiyeh a “disturbing… symbol of Islamic militancy” [6] Columnist Carolyn P. Glick equates the Palestinian keffiyeh with the fascist wearing of brown shirts. [7] A spokesman for Spain’s Popular Party accused Prime Minister Zapatero of "anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and Israelophobia," after he was photographed wearing a keffiyeh. [8]
#5 ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467767600&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
#6 ^ WITHOUT “BOUNDARY: 17 WAYS OF LOOKING,” The Independent (London, England) April 28, 2006 , by Rhoda Koenig
#7 ^ No Tolerance for Genocide, By Carolyn P. Glick, Jerusalem Post, August 2, 2002
#8 ^ http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/20/news/spain.php
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 2:29AM
it was in urban outfitters last year. everwhere in london before that. and in denmark, switz., all europe including istanbul.
has gone mainstream a year ago.
keep in mind, red and white refers to hamas..
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 3:16AM
everyone i know who has them calls them 'indie scarfs'
and i just want to kick them in the teeth!!!
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 3:26AM
Did it not occur to you that some people DO wear it for its political meaning??
posted by fay
Apr 08, 2008 4:58AM
This trend has been around for ages, they've been selling them in Urban Outfitters for at least a year.
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 5:23AM
$50 is ridiculous because you can get them on every street corner in london for £5 or less. also, this trend has been over in britain for way before that balenciaga show. not to brag or anything.
posted by Cortege
Apr 08, 2008 7:36AM
I thought this style was over! Some people have said that this isn't exactly a 'middle eastern' style one, and that is true.
A scarf is a scarf. I find the style (size wise) and fabric of these scarves pretty comfortable. I have friends who bought theirs in the respective countries when they were traveling there: they're not gonna stop wearing them because they came into 'fashion'.
You can usually tell who wears these as a 'trend' , and who wears them because they are a useful part of their wardrobe. As with most things.
Isabel Marant did the keffiyeh as well.
Abercrombie's is a pretty (and overpriced, probably) tablecloth. Are they trying to be funny? As in.. parody?
posted by oui_oui
Apr 08, 2008 7:43AM
:|
Wow. Okay, first of all, that is NOT a Keffiyeh. This is a totally different pattern. I should know, I AM and currently LIVE in the Mid-East. So to all you I-was-over-it-before-it-started know-it-alls, get your patterns straight.
And it is not so controversial. It is worn in the Gulf as well, has been for many, many years. It IS a symbol of solidarity, but it is also just part of the traditional ensemble worn by Arab men.
and FYI, Balenciaga did not invent the whole Keffiyeh-scarf look. Independent Arab designers across the Middle East have used the pattern in many of their designs, especially in scarves.
posted by HeatherChandler
Apr 08, 2008 10:41AM
I got one as a gift waaay back in 1991. Didn't wear it then and I won't wear it now.
posted by Aaron Christopher
Apr 08, 2008 11:33AM
I work there. I think they're cute. The forms have them wearing the scarves with tank tops and jeans. Yeah, the styles been around for a while but the entire point of fashion and style is to wear what you want and make it look good. So if you can wear and work it, I say go for it!
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 12:06PM
I live in Toronto,
I had been rocking these scarves since the fall/winter of 05/06 as far as I am concerned they were played out as soon as the influx of Hipsters/Scensters caught on in the fall/winter of 06/07.
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 12:48PM
Come to Denmark. Go to the local school. Count.
Only the guy who spends all his time playing WoW doesn't own one.
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 5:38PM
LOL, I'm going to throw the one I got from the urban outfitters men's section away STAT! Seriously abercrombie...they don't even sale "black" colored clothing and they are trying to get hipster with this scarf? GAG ME WITH A SPOON!
posted by guest
Apr 08, 2008 6:07PM
The Hipsters/Scenesters/Emo kids definitely have been wearing this for a while.
I can credit this to many bands, such as Cobra Starship, namely the lead singer, Gabe Saporta, that have been wearing these scarves. The controversy is clear about them, but in reality, isn't it just another fashion fad?
posted by enicke_
Apr 08, 2008 7:36PM
I think when a piece of clothing that stands for a political or cultural statement, completely loses its value when translated into fashion. It just fades off immediately, like KABOOM!
posted by guest
Apr 10, 2008 8:37AM
i live in israel, and seeing people wearing kaffiyehs as fashion is so stupid, and slightly offensive. its a symbol of the palestinians, but using fashion to express political views is disingenuous. get over it and wear a different pattern.
posted by guest
Apr 11, 2008 7:11PM
i agree.. they are so common now its sad because i have so many colorful, flowery, oriental looking different versions and i wear mine everyday. i aslo loove the title..next stop:mall kids. agreed
ps: i baught mine december 06 , also for like 10 euros each
posted by la petite fashionista
Apr 07, 2008 3:42PM
wow! does abercrombie not understand how controversial this scarf is? i'm guesssing not..