EPLF (Shaebia) came out from the womb of ELF (Jebha) and ELF was influenced by Arab nationalistic movement aka Baath حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي, ELF fighters were trained in arabic language and the ELF fighters also wore the famous Palestinian scarf or Keffiyeh كوفية. EPLF fighters who more or less were of Tigrigna highlanders abandoned the true character of the Palestinian scarf which was white and black and instead wore it in different colors. either totally white, green or grey. The scarf was used as a blanket when it is cold or it is used to serve as shroud when the higher martyrs. In Eritrea, the scarf is called ኩሹፍ or ዑማ
ELF leader Abdullah Idris with his famous Palestinian keffiyeh

EPLF fighters

Here is Meles zenawi former bodyguard admitting that it was the Shaebians who were trendsetters while tigrians were merely followers.
https://www.facebook.com/10000820668155 ... 1039091080
ኩሹፍ or ዑማ had a purpose in the struggle before the leeches turned the garment as fashion contest between them and as a symbol of their so called struggle.