Library Journal
Scott ferrets out the unusual, the divine, and the ubiquitous...color photographs beautifully illustrate both simple and complex examples.
Orlando Sentinel
When it comes to broadening our horizons, Headwraps: A Global Journey is the next best thing to being there.
Publishers Weekly
A specific travelogue of sorts, it's also highly personal....The excellent photographs are the book's best asset.
The New York Times
Packed with captivating photographs and enlightening details on the practices of covering the human head by the people of 32 countries on five continents, the book discusses the vagaries of head covering: though culturally specific, headwraps transcend the boundaries of sex (men and women use them) and social class. There are cultures and communities in which the use of headwraps hold religious and moral values, as for men and women in North Africa and the women of the former Soviet Republics; in others they are decorative and ceremonial, as in rural Thailand; and in yet others they are used to establish social status and rank, as with the male spiritual leaders and chiefs of northern Nigeria. — Nurah-Rosalie Jeter
Library Journal
Scott ferrets out the unusual, the divine, and the ubiquitous in this first book on architecture for the head, covering everything from ordinary headwraps to singular items ritually worn. Scott, an art director at the New York Times, spent a year traveling across the globe researching, documenting, and photographing headwraps worn by women and men from every ethnic group and socioeconomic background. She organizes the history of these wraps by continent and then by country. Well balanced with the author's travel anecdotes are detailed descriptions of fabric twisting and embellishment, as her new acquaintances reveal the meaning behind tucks, folds, and other intricate design elements. Color photographs beautifully illustrate both simple and complex examples and are juxtaposed with historical illustrations and archival images. A glossary and index would have made the book more useful, as there are specific terms for many indigenous accouterments that general readers will not recognize. Also lacking is a how-to section for readers who want to duplicate pieces shown in the text. Nevertheless, this comprehensive volume is highly recommended and essential for libraries with costume and fabric design collections.-Rebecca Tolley-Stokes, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-When the author noticed "towering, exotic headwraps" worn by African-American women in New York, she began to conduct interviews with those who wore these "architectural creations" and found that they did so in celebration of their African heritage. Scott also spoke with West African immigrants who told her more about the origins and cultural significance of the garment. Further research made her aware that every continent has a rich and varied tradition of headwraps or scarves. Eventually, she went on to document current and historical styles worn by men and women. The resulting book is a whirlwind tour of 32 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the South Pacific, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Scott sweeps readers along with her through setbacks, surprises, and serendipities in her journey off the beaten track. On any page, readers will find excellent color photos of Scott's many new friends in their headgear, or archival photos and artistic renderings. Illustrations and text mesh seamlessly to reveal an amazing variety of textiles and methods of tying. Scott touches on the history and cultural significance of each style, but in this broad survey and fast-paced travel narrative, understandably the focus is usually more aesthetic than analytical. Teens will be charmed by this visually stunning, ebullient book; the discussions sparked are likely to range well beyond matters of fashion.-Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
