One thing is clear: scarves and shawls are simply indispensable in a modern closet. Depending on the accents you want to add, high-quality scarves and shawls can give a look a glamorous touch or an expression of power and independence. Because they are so endlessly versatile. But did you know that the good old scarf has its origins in ancient Egypt and Rome? Join us on a short journey through time to find out more about the evolution of the scarf.
The scarf was first spotted in ancient Egypt in 1350 BC. Queen Nefertiti is said to have worn a tightly woven shawl and a conical headdress. She is said to have been very lofty and intimidating.
In ancient Rome, on the other hand, men used the scarf as a kind of sweat shield to protect themselves from the summer heat. Military personnel in the Far East also used the scarf to demonstrate their rank. Even the clay warriors of the terracotta army buried in 200 BC “wore” scarves.
In the 19th century, scarves and shawls gradually conquered the popular fashion world. Napoleon is said to have brought his beloved Josephine a pashmina shawl from Egypt in 1801. She immediately fell in love with the textile and began her own collection.
A few years later in 1837, a small French fashion house called Hermès - you may have heard of it - produced its first prêt-à-porter scarf made of fine silk with graphic elements. Cashmere scarves with a unique paisley pattern were also so popular that Queen Victoria bought one for herself in 1842. With a scarf or shawl, the wearer not only demonstrated a sense of style, but also social status.
During the First World War from 1914 to 1919, women saw it as their patriotic duty to knit scarves. They knitted vast quantities of scarves, socks and pullovers from wool, which were sent to the armed forces to keep them warm and protect them from the wet in the harsh conditions in the trenches.
In the 1920s, the textile industry in Europe and America began to produce elegant silk accessories with intricate graphic prints. The London department store Liberty, for example, produced fine silk scarves in unique colors and exciting patterns, which were particularly popular among the well-heeled ladies of London.
At the same time, Hermès imported Chinese silk and created innovative luxury scarves that made a name for themselves with their unique features, including the hand-rolled hem, hand-painted details and square format (90 x 90 cm). The raw silk from China was much stronger and more robust than any other type of silk to date.
In the mid-20th century, movie stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Brigitte Bardot were often seen wearing headscarves, whether on the silver screen or on the streets of New York and Paris - usually in combination with oversized sunglasses for celebrity camouflage. Even public figures such as Jackie Onassis and Queen Elizabeth II have come to love the look.
Nowadays, many established fashion houses have launched their version of the scarf or shawl, expressing the spirit of their brand. Burberry, for example, has launched a scarf with its iconic check pattern that costs only a fifth of the classic Burberry trench coat. And with the advent of new technologies, scarves and shawls continue to evolve in terms of color, design and fabric.
If the history of the scarf teaches us one thing, it's that scarves and shawls will remain an essential part of women's fashion for years to come. So wear them with pride!
Image credits:
Header image: Stocksy
Image close-up of a woman with a scarf tied around her neck: Getty Images
Image of Brigitte Bardot wearing a scarf on her head: Getty Images
Image of a woman with a scarf wrapped around her head: Blaublut