“The least you can do is leave our symbols alone” The Palestinian Keffiyeh in the Fashion Industry:A Study on Cultural Appropriation and Identity

Abstract: The Keffiyeh, a traditional headdress, holds symbolic significance for Palestinians in their struggle for freedom against the occupation, yet its utilization in the fashion industry has drawn criticism for its exploitative nature and disregard for its cultural importance to Palestinians. Hence, this thesis examines Palestinians' perceptions of the use of the Keffiyeh in the fashion industry and the significance of this garment for their cultural identity. It is based on semi-structured interviews with five Palestinian women who were born in Palestine and in Europe. This paper draws upon cultural appropriation as a foundational element in the academic background, while utilizing cultural identity as a theoretical framework. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the Keffiyeh plays an important role in the cultural identity of the interviewed Palestinians’ and that its use in the fashion industry is viewed as an appropriation of their culture. By situating this paper within the current body of research on cultural identity and cultural appropriation, it aims to provide valuable insights into the importance of the Keffiyeh for Palestinian identity through an examination of the Palestinian perspective, thereby contributing to existing scholarly discourse.