Shemagh - Sand

Description

Arafat

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Arafat from GFC Tactical is made of high-quality cotton and is manufactured in Pakistan. Thanks to the cotton weight of 175 grams per square metre, it is ideal for use both in summer and, when folded, in the colder seasons.

Arafat, also known as kefija, is a traditional Arab head covering - a square piece of cloth, usually cotton, which is folded and wrapped around the head in various ways. It became the "trademark" of Yasser Arafat, who could hardly be seen, let alone photographed, without this characteristic headscarf. He wore the kefiya in the traditional way, but also tied a second one around his neck.

For various reasons, American and British soldiers were often photographed and filmed wearing kefiya around their necks during the war against Iraq and the subsequent occupation of the country. They were usually khaki coloured with a black pattern. The reason for this may have been an attempt to win over the Arab population, but there were also practical reasons. The most common images show soldiers wearing kefiyas folded into a triangle and tied around their necks. In this way, the cloth can be used to cover the nose and mouth, which, in combination with goggles, provides excellent protection from the desert sand; the kefiya around the neck was also intended to prevent it from rubbing off the collar of a bulletproof vest.