My early memories of headwraps go back to my mother in Nigeria who would bend, twist, tie and tuck her ịchafụ ejiji isi (fashion headscarf) repeatedly until she felt it looked right. I did not really understand why so much passion and concentration went into this preparation but I knew it was an art that at some point in my life, I would have to learn; as it is a part of my Ibo Culture. She would ask in between styles, "What do you think?" And, of course my response would be, “It looks great!” If she did not think the same, she would take it off and start again; taking breaks in between to rest her hands. Again, I wondered why it was such a big deal to get the head scarf or wrap sitting atop her head. But nonetheless, I always found it fascinating and amazing on how beautiful she looked when she was done with the wrapping. As an essential element in today’s fashion trends and brands, the headscarf or headwrap was not seen as part of the fashion norm. I would go as far as to say that it was a style that people who had no knowledge of it, found funny or weird; hence turning their noses up on it. While another fraction of people who found it intriguing took it upon themselves to learn about this artistry. Not always specific to a gender in an ethnic group, a number of countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America to the Islands, Caribbean wore and still wear the different forms of headscarves, headties, headwraps, headdresses and turbans as an expression of their cultural, traditional and religious preferences. Turbans are regarded to have a powerful and deep meaning. For the Sikhs, the turban is an Article of Faith that is a mark of visual identity, which conveys royalty, grace and uniqueness. Representing complete commitment, it is made up of cotton fabric and is usually ten (10) to twenty (2o) feet long. To a practicing male and female Sikh who wears the turban, it is a spiritual crown that reminds them that he or she sits on the throne of consciousness, committed to higher principles. The turban which is said to keep the hair clean and protect the head of the wearer cannot be casually taken on and off; and must be carefully be retied each time it is removed.

In parts of West Africa, headwraps come in a number of shapes, sizes, colors and heights; and they are but a fraction of the headwraps used across the continent. In various parts of Africa, the colorful wraps represent the history and tradition of the people. Worn by men but mostly women, the significance or meaning may differ for both genders; to the extent that even the colors of the head wrap would have different meanings. Serving as a head cover since at least the early 1700s, it is believed that African cultures used head wraps before the days of slavery so that men could show off their wealth and the level of their social status and so that women could prove that they were prosperous and spiritual. Most of the African headwraps are often folded in a rectangle and tied around the head in an ornamental fashion, bringing the attention upwards and towards the face. African headwraps are very striking and the bright colors can really animate and brighten the face of the wearer. There are parts of the continent known for the simpler headwraps and turbans. The hijab – a word that is in reference to modest behavior or dress in general draped on the head and around the neck is commonly worn by Muslim women in parts of Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia. Some are decorated with stunningly colorful beads and designs, giving an extra fashion edge to the headpiece. In Ethiopia, Eritrea and Russia, in accordance with the Christian Orthodox religious belief, women are known to cover their heads with headscarves and veils. In some branches of Judaism, married women are required to cover their hair with scarves, known as tichels which is a veil that covers all the hair toward the back with the leftover of the veil made into a bun, in compliance with the code of modesty known as tzniut.

In times of traditional celebration from weddings to festivals, the headscarf plays a significant role during such events. For instance, Salvadoran women wear distinctive regional veils for national celebrations. Salvadoran Veils are an important traditional folkloric adornment for women in El Salvador's cultural attire. In African weddings such as those in Nigeria, the headwrap is a must-wear during the traditional wedding and at a point during the wedding reception. Known for the long dresses and skirts along with the blouses on and off the shoulder in Cuba during the festive events, the headscarf completes the look tied and worn up or down. In addition to festivities, the headscarf can be used to strong statements on important social and political issues as well. For instance, a plain red or scarlet headscarf was worn by female commissars and other women aligning themselves with Bolshevism during the times of the Russian revolution and civil war. In Argentina, around thirty thousand people are estimated to have disappeared during the regime of the military regime in the late seventies and early eighties, according to the human rights group Madres de Plaza de Mayo. The organization which was formed by mothers and grandmothers of the missing met and marched around the eponymous plaza in Buenos Aires demanding to know the fates of their children with a lot of them wearing a white headscarf of the Madres. Among African American community, the head-wrap was an object of oppression from one vantage point during the time of slavery. But from the other, the perspective of the slave community, it was a vehicle of empowerment and a memento of freedom. For the women, the wrap, which varied in form from region to region, signified communal identity. At the same time, the particular appearance of an individual head-wrap was an expression of personal identity.

From the cultural, social, political and religious significances, the headscarf transitioned from a traditional headdress within and outside of Africa, to the runways of Milan, London, New York, South Africa, Nigeria, Paris and more to become a fashion statement. Fashion designers around the globe find inspiration looking within their cultures or that of their neighbors; recreating the idea of a headscarf or turban to add to a new collection gracing the top notch high fashion magazines of the world; thus bringing attention to an ethnic group’s beauty in the unique headwrap. Now the headscarf is a part of the everyday look. No matter where one goes, one will meet both women and men who adorn a scarf on their heads with heavy or light fabrics in amazing colors and prints. Some cover their heads after a losing battle with their hair; others cover their heads to show their pride for their homeland. With some, it can be a serious thought provoking preparation that fashion sake, some build their wardrobe for days around a headscarf in order to be the center of attention. No matter the reason, it is always fun to see different creative minds come up with their ideas of how a headscarf adds beauty to a collection on and off the runway with a better understanding on why my mom so much of her creative passion in creating an amazing ịchafụ ejiji isi….the fashion headscarf!