Everything that matters to you before buying a new shemagh
Each country has the uniform that distinguishes it and expresses it, its culture and its ancient history, so we see the Scots wearing the embroidered Scottish skirt that expresses the patriotism of the Scottish man, and it also gives him comfort and ease of movement, especially in mountainous areas. Likewise, the Sumerirro cap, which is a sign of the Colombian heritage and was worn by farmers to protect them from sunlight during work, before becoming a fashion and adorned with different social groups and nationalities. Have you heard before that about the Dutch domain, whose discovery dates back to 1230 AD and is made so far? Also, the high "jelly" head bundle worn by Nigeria women is a sign of social status and proportions.
Speaking of this, we start our topic on the tubes, as it is an integral part of the Arab heritage uniform, which is proud of all Arabs in various regions of the Gulf and the Levant for the Arabian Peninsula and the countries of North Africa. Its history extends for thousands of years even before Islam enters with different shapes and colors.
With countless tags, how many times one of your relatives or grandparents buy only white or red shemagh? But on the ground there are several differences in terms of color, shape, material, method of confusion and even naming.
If you are looking for valuable information to buy the best online shemagh type or from any store, here is this article that is your comprehensive guide to know everything related to the shemagh and its history.
Naming
The origin of the word Shemagh belongs to the word (Yashmagh), which is a Sumerian word consisting of two syllables "Ash" and "Mach" and means the headscarf. Hence the word Shemagh, whose name is different from one region to another, we find in Palestine and Lebanon that they call it the keffiyeh or the cow. With the different designation, embroidery, shape, color and significance varies. The Palestinian keffiyeh is usually made of cotton or linen and has black and white patterns that indicate the steadfastness of its valiant people against tyrants. As for the Sultanate of Oman, its men wear the "punch", and it has a special appearance with colored decorations, and the way to wear it is completely different from wearing the shemagh in neighboring countries.
Why do men wear shemagh?
You may now be wondering why Arab men are so keen on wearing a shemagh?
In addition to being a symbol of authenticity and adherence to ancient Arab culture, the shemagh has several benefits. Before talking about it, let us touch a little on the geography of the place.
The Arab world is in the globe and its country extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the west of the Arabian Gulf in the east, in connection with North African countries. The Arab world also dominates the desert climate, especially the Gulf countries and the Arabian Peninsula. Here comes the benefits of shemagh; In light of this hot and stormy atmosphere with sand and dust, the heads of men in various types of shampoo and jams take shelter; It works as a protective shield against sunlight and wind, as well as absorbing sweat and providing their owners with warmth in the severe winter. Moreover, it gives an attractive touch to the man’s appearance and gives an indication of his adherence to his Arabism and culture inherited from one generation to another.
The most popular forms of shemagh and ghutra
White shemagh: The white shemagh is made of light fabrics, such as sherbet cotton or willow, and is plain white in color or decorated with some delicate and soft embroideries to add a kind of elegance and attractiveness to the shemagh’s appearance.
The agal is placed over the shemagh to secure it to the head. It is usually made of wool and its colors vary between white and black.
This type of shemagh is an essential element of the official Emirati male dress.
White and red shemagh: This type of shemagh may share the material with the white shemagh, but its appearance is completely different. Red patterns and lines dominate the white cloth, giving a striking and elegant appearance. The black or white agal is attached to it and is usually worn over a white robe and black shoes. The white and red shemagh is more common in Saudi Arabia.
The Palestinian Ghutra: Many people are discussing on social media the symbolism and meanings of the inscriptions found on the Palestinian Ghutra, or the Keffiyeh, as it is called in the country. Among these meanings is that some of the wavy decorations resemble the olive tree leaves for which Palestine is famous, others resemble the nets with which Palestinians catch fish, and others resemble ancient trade routes. Although there is no official source for the authenticity of these meanings, the Palestinian keffiyeh will remain a symbol of resistance.
Shemagh raw materials
Shemagh is made from different types of threads which determine the quality and durability of the shemagh; There are shemaghs made from 100% pure cotton threads, some made from a mixture of cotton and polyester, and others made from 100% polyester.
Cotton sheepskin is the best of all, and the type of threads made from it varies. There are pure cotton threads, long-staple threads, edited threads, and others. Cotton has many benefits, such as its ability to absorb sweat, good ventilation for the head, warmth in the winter, etc.
In the summer, the choice falls on shemagh made of linen. Because it is characterized by its light weight and thin layer, it does not cause discomfort to the wearer, especially in very hot times.
Materials you should avoid when buying a shemagh
To enjoy the greatest comfort when wearing the shemagh, you should avoid some materials that are a source of irritation, such as polyester, which is one of the worst materials. This is because it causes itching and does not absorb sweat; Which causes bad odors and other infections. Heavy shemaghs should also be avoided because they are impractical and difficult to wear for a long period of time.
Otherwise, some other factors affect the overall appearance of the shemagh wearer, such as the fading of the red color due to poor dyeing or the yellowing of the white color with use and washing, as well as the disappearance of the shine, the occurrence of wrinkling, and the edges of the cloth not matching.
If you are confused, choose a Swiss or Japanese shemagh; Because it is made from the finest fabrics and woven with fine fabric and its edges are even, it makes you look your best every time you wear it.
What are the most common ways of wrapping a shemagh?
Wearing a shemagh is a very neat process and has more than one style to help you appear in more than one elegant appearance. Firstly, you must choose the size of the shemagh that suits the size of your head and the material that allows you to move easily and smoothly. Then choose the method of wrapping the shemagh according to the occasion and the time available to you.
Here are some of the most popular shemagh wraps:
1. Place one end of the shemagh on the opposite shoulder.
2. Place both ends of the shemagh on the opposite shoulder (this method is one of the easiest and most common methods used when wearing a shemagh because it facilitates movement).
3. Lay the two ends of the shemagh forward, while bending the middle of the shemagh over the forehead.
4. Place one end of the shemagh forward while leaving the other end falling on the back.
5. Place both ends of the shemagh on the head so that it resembles a scale.
6. The cobra method, which requires raising both ends of the shemagh over the head while placing one end forward on the opposite shoulder to form a cobra shape. However, this method is considered impractical because the wearer faces difficulty moving his head and neck.
