The Shemagh is worn throughout the Arab world, and varies slightly by region. In the Gulf, the primary types of headgear are the Shemagh and the Ghotra, the latter is made of mild, white cotton, and is usually smooth in texture. The Shemagh is also made in cotton, but has a distinctive pattern woven on the cloth, and can come in many different colors, but in the Gulf, the most common are red and white. The pattern itself is said to have originated from in Mesopotamien-era Arabia as a representation of fishing nets, or types of crop.