In saying Ì¢âÂÒtheir practicality explains their popularity,Ì¢âÂå you may be missing the point. While some do associate the keffiyeh with Palestinian politics, it's recent popularity may have less to do with developments in Israel/Palestine than with a long-running strain of orientalism in American culture. US troops wearing keffiyeh get a similar kick that other tourists in the Middle East get from putting kohl on their eyes and dressing up in hijab. To Americans and Europeans, Arabs have long been exotic, mysterious, and free (whether or not our images reflect accurately on their reality). ItÌ¢âÂã¢s these archetypes that are influencing the customers at Urban Outfitters. The blue and white checkered keffiyeh is never going to have the same sexy appeal because it canÌ¢âÂã¢t draw on the same imagery.
In saying Ì¢âÂÒtheir practicality explains their popularity,Ì¢âÂå you may be missing the point. While some do associate the keffiyeh with Palestinian politics, it's recent popularity may have less to do with developments in Israel/Palestine than with a long-running strain of orientalism in American culture. US troops wearing keffiyeh get a similar kick that other tourists in the Middle East get from putting kohl on their eyes and dressing up in hijab. To Americans and Europeans, Arabs have long been exotic, mysterious, and free (whether or not our images reflect accurately on their reality). ItÌ¢âÂã¢s these archetypes that are influencing the customers at Urban Outfitters. The blue and white checkered keffiyeh is never going to have the same sexy appeal because it canÌ¢âÂã¢t draw on the same imagery.