Last kaffiyeh factory in Palestinian territories: 'It's more than a business'

The kaffiyeh, the chequered headscarf worn by politicians and militants alike Photograph: Nir Kafri

A kaffiyeh is woven on a loom at the factory Photograph: Nir Kafri

Hirbawi Textiles once employed 15 men in the factory, plus perhaps another 25 women finishing the scarves in their homes, between them supporting about 300 people and producing hundreds of kaffiyehs each day Photograph: Nir Kafri

The family will not give up its struggle to keep the factory going. “We will continue. This is the fruit of 50 years of continuous work – it’s more than a business. We are trying to be competitive but we want to manufacture a high-quality kaffiyeh.” Photograph: Nir Kafri

Reels of cotton in the factory, which is struggling to keep afloat in the face of competition from cheap Chinese imports Photograph: Nir Kafri

One loyal employee is now left working alongside the Hirbawi brothers Photograph: Nir Kafri

A low-wattage fluorescent strip casts a pool of light amid the factory’s general dimness Photograph: Nir Kafri