Who Can Wear A Head Wrap?

There have been a lot of conversations about the appropriation of head wraps and turbans recently.

Here's our view. As a business created to help women enhance their looks with beautifully designed headwraps, we believe headwraps have no barrier. We have customers from all over the world that can attest to that. This is why we have decided to share our 2 cents about this topic.

Headwraps have been in existence for many centuries. Historically, people have been known to wear head wraps for different reasons including religion, culture and fashion. Although the styles, fabrics and purposes for which they are worn may differ among individuals, head wraps do not belong to one particular group.

The word turban originated from Turkey in the 1200s. They were first worn by men as protective clothing against harsh weather conditions. With time, as the Islamic religion began to spread across the world, turbans and other types of head wraps became adopted by people for religious reasons as well.

However, headwrap use is not restricted to Muslims. Christians, Jews, Hindus and other religions also choose to wear them.

In Jamaica, women also wear head coverings as a form of reverence to their God. Men in Jamaica also wear head wraps as a form of protection for their locs.

In Africa, particularly in West Africa, it is a cultural practice among different tribes for women to wear head wraps. There are also some cultures where head wraps are worn as a sign of maturity. For instance, the Sikhs in India wear their first head wrap, called Pagris, after a coming-of-age ceremony.

Head wraps became very popular in the 1400s, as trade route networks began to expand. These routes facilitated relations and cultural exchange with people from different parts of the world. Now headwraps are not only worn for religious purposes, but also to make fashion statements. 

The United States, whose culture is largely a mix of a great many other cultures, also has its own head wrap history.

It came from the African slaves brought to America. For example, the Tignon Laws enacted in 1786 in Louisiana made it compulsory for free and slave Creole women of African ancestry to wear head wraps in public. Although the law was no longer regulated in the 1800s, black women continued to use headwraps as wardrobe staples.

As entertainment and American culture grew to become one the U.S's largest exports, head wraps became more popular in mainstream culture. Entertainers and top celebrities were seen rocking headwraps, and unconsciously making the headwrap a trend.

Today, that trend is stronger than ever. Irrespective of our color, race, country or religion, we should feel free to express ourselves with head coverings for fashion or otherwise.

Here at Modest Fashion Mall, we love head wraps because they are a form of expression for women. They inspire creativity and lots of our customers feel confident and beautiful rocking them.

So, it likely comes as no surprise that we believe headwraps are for everyone. 

Mayowa O.