A stylishly done head wrap is an affordable fashion statement that will make you feel and look beautiful and a classy way of adding an Afrocentric touch to any outfit. Bag yourself this elegant and trendy African print headwrap and matching earring combo for a bold fashion statement -suitable for all seasons and hair volumes. You can wear your head wrap with any outfit
Features
- generous size (approximately 70 inches by 25)
- Headwrap is not pre-tied so you can play around with endless wrapping styles. You can also find dozens of easy to follow online tutorials on how to wrap
- Matching pair of earrings
Interesting Facts:
The origin of the headwraps can be traced back to the early 1700s where they were worn by women, often to indicate their age, marital status and prosperity. Many African queens adorned the traditional headwear, including Nubian queens who chose elaborate and rich fabrics woven with exotic and beautiful flowers. Nigerian queens often opted for lighter and finer materials for special occasions, and Egyptian royalty would rock stunning, elaborate head-dresses.
Not only were headwraps a status symbol, they were also practical and were used mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa to wrap the head and protect the scalp and hair from the harsh rays of the sun and dust during windy and rainy seasons.
The headwrap goes by various names, depending on which part of the world you are: in Nigeria it is a ‘gele’, in Botswana a ‘tuki’ and in a number of Southern African countries it’s called a ‘dhuku’.
You however don’t have to go very far back in history to realise that the headwrap also has a history linked to slavery and oppression. Google the term “tignon” and you will unearth the oppressive laws which were passed in Louisiana – United states which stated that all black women were to wear “their natural hair bound in a kerchief” or a “tignon.”. Black women were also forbidden from wearing the same jewellery as women of European descent. The picture below captures this very sentiment:
Slave women wearing head wraps in St. Augustine, Florida, circa 1850. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The motive for setting such laws was to ease concerns that a growing number of European men were finding black women appealing and more exotic. It was an attempt to discourage slave masters from pursuing women that were deemed to be beneath them. Many women of European descent also insisted on headwraps being worn by their slaves to avoid any confusion over who was the mistress. This resulted in enslaved black women being forced to wear headwraps as uniform, making them a symbol of slavery and inferior status in European areas.
Against all odds, the oppressed black women evolved the meaning of the headwrap into a proud symbol of black identity, defiance and an avenue to reclaim their identity and freedom of cultural expression.
Fast forward to today, the headwrap has managed to shake off the connotations of oppression and submission and evolved into trendy fashion accessory and a best friend for a day when you just want to give your hair a break… but still slay in style! A bit of a tuck, twist and tie and you can achieve numerous styles with the same headwrap. It’s no wonder this stunning piece of African fashion is now enjoyed and appreciated by many other cultures around the world. Choose a headwrap to match your personality from our GAVASTIE Collection range of wraps – available in a variety of colours and patterns.
We especially love the video below from ‘Covered Glory’ because it gives a wonderful historical perspective of the headwrap:
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