Things You Need to Know About the Palestinian Kufiya/Keffiyeh

1. Ancient Roots, Timeless Symbol

Born in 3100 BCE Mesopotamia as a priestly garment, the kufiya (named after Iraq’s city of Kufa) evolved into a Bedouin and farmer’s shield against sun and sand. For Palestinians, its black-and-white patterns became a canvas of their land:

• Bold lines = The Mediterranean Sea

• Thin stitches = Rivers of historic Palestine

• Olive-leaf motifs = The orchards that define their terrain

2. From Arafat to Global Solidarity

In the 1960s, Yasser Arafat transformed the kufiya into a political compass. His iconic draping resembling pre 1948 Palestine’s map turned it into a universal emblem of resistance after his 1974 UN speech. Yet beneath its symbolism lies a 9,000-year-old legacy of practicality and pride.

3. How to Wear It Right

• Buy Authentic: Support Palestinian artisans via palestiniankufiya.org.

• Know the Story: Each stitch carries rivers, olive groves, and exile.

• Act in Solidarity: Wear it not as a trend, but as a pledge to preserve.

5. A Call to the World

The kufiya’s threads bind past to present. To wear one is to:

✔ Reject erasure
✔ Fund resilience (50% of our profits aid Gaza)
✔ Weave justice into everyday life