Sunshawl

In the moving sands and luscious plains of Argea, the glaring sun can often be too much to bear. To protect themselves from heatstroke and sunburn, the people wear a Sunshawl, a loosely attached piece of cloth that covers the cheeks and neck that is tied to the head with twine. Sunshawls were originally purely functional, but as they became deeply ingrained within Argean culture, variations began to pop up around the continent. People would wear bands along the edge, the colour of which could often indicate social hierarchy or profession as follows:

• White - peasantry
• Light blue - Military
• Green - religious
• Scarlet - Nobility
• Indigo - Royalty

The latter two - nobility and royalty Sunshawls - tend to be shorter as the wearer spends more time inside, the fabric often stopping just below the ears.
In the last fifty years, Sunshawls have been integrated into Cebelran law, and it has become illegal to wear a Sunshawl of a colour not corresponding to your social class, under pain of a hefty fine.

Significance

Huge cultural significance

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Related ethnicities

• Argeans

Rarity

Very common in Argea

Raw materials & Components

Sunshawls are more commonly made from linen, although other fabrics have been used.

King Nasera's Shawl

In 1555, King Nasera, the predecessor to the current king, created a very elaborate Sunshawl. It was made from incredibly soft linen, inlaid with gold and gems.
This went against the core design of Sunshawls, and was as such very controversial. The Shawl was eventually destroyed in 1562.

What;s that? Do I have a Sunshawl? Yes, of course I have a Sunshawl. It's just in the cupboard. Why wouldn't I?