Why Keffiyeh Colors Matter
The keffiyeh — known in Palestine as the kufiya — has been worn across the Arab world for centuries, and in that time it has accumulated layers of meaning that vary by country, community, and design. Unlike a flag, which is officially assigned its symbolism, the keffiyeh's color vocabulary evolved organically: through trade routes, local landscapes, refugee history, and — with Hirbawi's newer designs — deliberate tributes to specific Palestinian towns, camps, and stories.
Understanding the colors before you buy or wear one is not about gatekeeping. It is about knowing what you are carrying. This guide unpacks each one, sourced directly from the story behind each design.
Black and White: The Palestinian Keffiyeh
Black and White Palestinian Keffiyeh woven at the Hirbawi factory in Palestine
The black-and-white keffiyeh is the most globally recognized version and the one most tightly associated with Palestinian national identity. Originally worn by the rural farming community, it became a symbol of resistance during the 1930s revolt against British colonial rule and, since the 1960s, the ultimate emblem of the Palestinian revolution.
Hirbawi weaves several variations on the classic pattern: the Inverted keffiyeh, born when Abu Mohammad Hirbawi noticed a film negative had swapped the black and white of a traditional design, and simply built it; the Pure Black, a black pattern on a black background for a sleeker, understated look; and the White Hirbawi keffiyeh, an all-white pattern reminiscent of the classic shepherd's headdress of the Middle East.
→ Shop authentic black and white keffiyehs, woven in Palestine.
Red and White: Bedouin Heritage
Red and white keffiyeh, bedouin origins, made in the Hirbawi factory
The red and white keffiyeh — known in Jordan as the shemagh or hatta — carries a different set of associations rooted in Bedouin culture and the Arabian Peninsula. The red dye historically came from a local plant, and the pattern's dense red check on white became the standard for Bedouin tribes across modern-day Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states.
In Jordan, the red and white keffiyeh is a national symbol. The Jordanian military wears it, and it appears in folk costumes and formal ceremonies. In the Gulf, variations of the red-and-white (sometimes referred to as the ghutra in white-only form) are everyday headwear for men across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, where they are worn with the agal — the black cord that holds the cloth in place.
The red and white is less associated with political solidarity movements and more with cultural and national identity in the broader Arab world. It is not better or worse than the black and white — it simply speaks to a different geography and tradition.
→ Browse Hirbawi's red keffiyehs.
Blue: The Sea, the Sky, and Everyday Elegance
The Yafa Hirbawi Kufiya, representing the seaside city of Yafa
Blue runs through several Hirbawi designs, each tied to a different Palestinian city and body of water. The Tabariya keffiyeh takes its blue from the Sea of Galilee — a white fishing net pattern on a deep blue background with bold black borders, honoring a fishing tradition that dates back to the time of Jesus. The Yafa keffiyeh uses a vibrant blue zigzag on a deep black background to capture the seaside beauty of Jaffa, historic Palestine's largest city before the 1948 Nakba. The Nazareth keffiyeh sets its blue pattern on a denim-colored background, reflecting the charm of the city. And the Traditional Blue pairs a black fisher-net pattern with a serene blue background and blue tassels — evoking the vastness of the sea and sky.
Blue also appears in tribute designs: the Bethlehem keffiyeh blends serene blue with saffron yellow, aubergine, and mint green to capture the city's sacred, peaceful character, and the Mar Elias keffiyeh sets a blue zigzag on a vibrant yellow background as a tribute to the 6th-century Mar Elias monastery south of Jerusalem
→ Shop the Blue keffiyeh designs
Gray: The Dheisheh Pattern
Hirbawi's Gray Dheisheh design is inspired by the Dheisheh Refugee camp
The Dheisheh keffiyeh — a dark gray background with a zigzag black pattern and light gray laces — is named for the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem. It's a tribute to the resilience, commitment to education, and vibrant spirit of a community that has held on to its identity under some of the hardest possible conditions.
Alongside it, the Nablus keffiyeh pairs a dark gray pattern on a light gray background as a nod to the eloquence and craftsmanship the city of Nablus is known for, and the plain Gray keffiyeh offers a refined, versatile take on the classic black-and-white for those who want something a little more understated.
→ Shop the Gray colored keffiyeh designs.
Flag Colors: Black, Red, and Green
Hirbawi Palestine Flag keffiyeh - black, red, and green on white
A handful of Hirbawi designs use the Palestinian flag's colors directly and unambiguously. The Palestine Flag keffiyeh sets black, red, and green on a white background — foldable in different ways to highlight a different color each time. The Hurriya Freedom keffiyeh takes a more creative interpretation of the same four flag colors (black, white, red, and green) as a statement about the ongoing Palestinian struggle for freedom of movement and dignity. And the Palestine Embroidered keffiyeh stitches the flag itself, in traditional tatreez needlework, across the classic black-and-white base.
→ Shop the Palestine Flag keffiyeh.
The Gaza: Green, Yellow, Rose, and Bordeaux
Hirbawi Gaza keffiyeh - green, yellow, rose, and bordeaux, with red laces
The Gaza keffiyeh is one of Hirbawi's most distinctive designs, and its colors are often misread as the Palestinian flag — they're not. The pattern is green, yellow, rose, and bordeaux, with red laces that pay tribute to Gazans' love of spicy food, where chili is a kitchen staple. The palette is a celebration of Gaza's climate and culinary culture, not a flag reference. It's a design made for people who want to name Gaza directly and celebrate the joyful, resilient spirit of its people.
The Mar Saba: A Color That Changes With the Light
Hirbawi Mar Saba keffiyeh - yellow and black threads that shift from yellow to khaki and olive
The Mar Saba keffiyeh is named after a monastery carved into the desert mountains near Bethlehem. Its background is woven from yellow and black threads that create an optical illusion — shifting from yellowish to khaki to olive green depending on the light. It has a minimal design, with only two corner fringes and no surrounding lace, making it a favorite for hikers and outdoor adventurers. If the classic black-and-white is the political statement, the Mar Saba is its quieter, more contemplative sibling.
The Saoirse: Green, White, and Orange — Irish Solidarity
Hirbawi Soarise keffiyeh - green, white, and orange, in Irish solidarity
Saoirse ("seer-sha") is the Irish word for freedom. The Saoirse keffiyeh takes its colors from the Irish flag — green, white, and orange — as a tribute to the resilient spirit of the Irish people and the connection between Palestine and Ireland: two peoples bound by a shared yearning for independence and cultural heritage.
Rainbow: Hope, Diversity, and a Brighter Tomorrow
Rainbow Hirbawi keffiyeh - hope and diversity
Just as a rainbow emerges after a storm, the Rainbow keffiyeh embodies peace and hope for a brighter tomorrow in Palestine. Its colorful pattern represents the diverse individuals from around the globe who share an unwavering commitment to a just world — a reminder that the struggle for justice in Palestine is part of a wider, universal struggle for peace, equality, and liberation.
The Sheikh Jarrah: A Community Rooted in place
Hirbawi Sheikh Jarrah keffiyeh, inspired by the community of its namesake
The green threads of the Sheikh Jarrah keffiyeh represent the deep roots of the Palestinian families who have lived in this Jerusalem neighborhood for generations — building homes, raising families, and creating a community that has stood the test of time. When the families of Sheikh Jarrah gained international attention for standing against eviction efforts by Israeli authorities, this keffiyeh became a way to keep their story from fading into oblivion. It's a design about a specific community's roots, not a broader movement.
→ Shop the Sheikh Jarrah keffiyeh.
How to Choose a Keffiyeh by Intention
There is no wrong answer, but knowing what each design represents can help you choose deliberately rather than by default. Here is a rough guide:
- Black and white — Classic Palestinian national identity. The most universally recognized keffiyeh design.
- Red and white — Bedouin heritage and one of the two classic keffiyeh colorways.
- Blue (Nazareth, Tabariya, Yafa, Traditional Blue) — The sea, the sky, and everyday elegance tied to specific Palestinian cities.
- Gray / Dheisheh — A tribute to Palestinian refugee camps and the resilience of the people who call them home.
- Flag colors (Palestine Flag, Hurriya Freedom, Palestine Embroidered) — A direct, unambiguous statement of Palestinian unity and the struggle for freedom.
- Gaza — A tribute to Gaza's climate, cuisine, and resilient spirit — not a flag reference.
- Mar Saba — For those drawn to Palestinian history beyond the present political moment — ancient, layered, contemplative.
- Saoirse — For those who feel the Irish-Palestinian solidarity connection personally.
- Rainbow — Hope and diversity, and a nod to the universal nature of the struggle for justice.
All Colors, One Factory
Regardless of which color or design you choose, every keffiyeh in the Hirbawi collection is woven on the same looms in the same factory in Hebron — the last kufiya factory still operating in Palestine. The colors change; the origin does not.
Buying from Hirbawi is not just buying a scarf. It is buying a piece of Palestinian material culture from the people who are still making it, in the place where it has always been made.
→ Shop all keffiyeh colors — woven in Palestine.
Hirbawi Factory, the last kufiya factory in Palestine
