Fashion scarves & wraps are an important fashion accessory in any woman’s or even a man’s wardrobe today. These wonderful pieces of clothing has an interesting and a long history. Thought to have its origins in Ancient Rome, the scarf was known as a ‘sudarium’ in Latin. A ‘sweat cloth’ meant to clean the face after a workout, it became a popular fashion accessory in the ancient times. Chinese sculptures trace back its history to 1000 B.C. In the earlier times, these scarves & wraps were usually hung loosely around the neck or simply tied as a belt using a simple knot. They add a dash of color and a distinct personality to the wearer apart from providing a shield from the extreme weather conditions. So much so that they have become an indispensable fashion accessory in the modern times too.
Going back to its origin and history, it is claimed widely that this traditional piece of clothing was worn by the warriors of Shih Huang Ti, a famous Chinese Emperor. Later on during the 17th Century, the scarf came to be increasingly worn by Croatian mercenaries. Moreover, the fabric used to make these was not wool but cotton, claim the experts. However, high rank officials preferred to wear silk scarves.
Feeling crazy about this latest innovation, the French too began wearing scarves. However, the clothing was called by different names, namely ‘kravata’ by the Croatian and ‘cravatas’ by the French people. Initially, the growing popularity of the scarves & wraps could be attributed to one’s political support demonstrated by the color. However, during the 18th Century, men and women of all classes could be seen wearing scarves as a fashion trend. The fashion fad also caught the fancy of people of Norway. This traditional piece of clothing eventually became an indispensable part of men’s and women’s wardrobe in the 19th Century. It was initially supplied by Sweden to Finland, Norway and a few other countries. This, which had trimmed fringes, gave way to single or double knot fringes. Such scarves became extremely popular with the people who wore them as headwear or as shawls.
The 20th century saw a beautiful amalgamation of old and new trends to create a wide variety of the traditional scarf. However, this traditional piece of clothing was conspicuous by its absence for a long time in the recent past. But, it’s back with a bang to create some trendsetting scarves & wraps fashion statements in the society. Nowadays, we can see a huge variety of beautiful and intricate designs dominating the fashion scenario. Designers love to use their imagination and creative skills to make exclusive designed pieces that will add glitter to your looks. Being a must-have accessory in every woman’s and man’s wardrobe, it is seeing new trends to compliment different dresses worn by people these days.
The beauty of this garment is that it can be easily assimilated with any piece of clothing. You can wear it around your neck or even wrap around your simple handbag to make it look special. A head scarf or a head wrap lends a touch of elegance and beauty to the wearer. The fact is that you can use it in the way you like – tie it around your wrist or waist for making your presence felt, no matter wherever you go. The journey of this fabulous accessory from a traditional piece of clothing worn by few to its present form is quite interesting.
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