Louis Vuitton criticised for selling $705 Palestinian keffiyeh

Louis Vuitton has been receiving flak lately for selling monogram keffiyeh stole. The stole incorporates the jacquard weave technique used to create monogram patterns on its base of blended cotton, wool, or silk, and costs $705 (Rs 51,514.35).

The brand is now being accused of cultural appropriation for creating a garment inspired by the classic keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.

Diet Prada, an Instagram fashion watchdog, pointed out in a post. They wrote, “So LVMH’s stance on politics is ‘neutral’, but they’re still making a $705 logo-emblazoned keffiyeh, which is a traditional Arab headdress that’s become a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.”

A traditional Arabian headdress, keffiyeh is a chequered cloth that is usually folded into a triangle and wrapped around the head or worn around the neck. The significance of keffiyeh dates back to the 1936 Arab Revolt, where Palestinian rebels used keffiyeh to hide their identity to avoid arrest. When the British mandate authorities banned the clothing item, all Palestinians started wearing it to make it harder to identify rebels.

Apart from accusing the fashion brand of “cultural appropriation” netizens were also quick to notice the colors on the keffiyeh — blue and white — and questioned whether the brand purposely chose the colors of Israel’s flag.