Tzitzit’s the latest fashion! Striped scarf ‘tallit’ hits high street

A white scarf with black stripes which closely resembles a tallit – or Jewish prayer shawl – has gone on sale at high-street clothes store H&M.

The tallit lookalike, retailing for £12.99, is being sold as a “striped scarf” but the design inspiration was clear, since it is almost identical in appearance to the garment worn by religious Jews, right down to the “fringed sides”.

Other items being sold by the retailer include a fringed “woven poncho” at £14,99, which again strikes a remarkable resemblance.

The tall it, traditionally worn by worshippers during prayer, takes its appearance from the book of Numbers (15:37-40), when the Israelites are commanded to put tzitzit (fringes) on their clothes, to remind them of God’s laws.