The term "dashiki" is derived from the Yoruba word "dashiki," which refers to a loose-fitting pullover that developed in West Africa as an utilitarian work tunic for men that was comfortable enough to wear in the heat. The dashiki gained political clout during the Civil Rights and Black Panther movements of the 1960s and early 1970s. Although there are claims that it became popular among African Americans then, we actually first see it in pictures taken in Italy in the 1950s. The dashiki went out of style in the late 1970s but made a comeback in the early 2000s. It is now used by people of all cultures and races around the world as an informal dress code. There are many varieties of dashikis available on the market today. They can be made of cotton or linen and often have colorful prints or solid colors. Some have belts, some don't. Some have flaps on the back pockets, others don't. But they all have one thing in common: they are designed to be worn casually and provide comfort to their wearers. Black people didn't invent the dashiki, but they did popularize it. During the civil rights movement, black leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X wore them to show their support for African American self-determination and to make a statement about racial equality. After the movement ended, the dashiki fell out of fashion until it was revived again in 2002.