Fashionistas have long been inspired by religious garments; from the bold crucifix necklaces to the Middle Eastern keffiyeh scarf.

Now, retailer H&M has released a new men’s accessory that has got the Jewish community talking.

Bearing a strong resemblance to a traditional tallit prayer shawl, the company has marketed a scarf priced at £12.99 that it describes as a light beige “scarf in soft fabric with woven stripes and fringes on the short sides”.

Writing on a pro-Israel group’s Facebook page, shopper Cheryl Hecker wrote: “I like it - stylish and observant at the same time.”

Angie Morland added: “I like it. It’s better than some of the designs we’ve seen over the past few seasons. I wonder how many BDS [activists] will buy and wear it without realising what it’s copying!”

H&M, which has around 3,000 stores across more than 50 countries, was forced to remove a men’s top that featured a skull at the centre of a large Star of David in 2014.