The Scarf: Enduring, Fashionable & Versatile

As with much in our wardrobe, the scarf was born of both form and function. Most agree that the scarf originated in China over 2,000 years ago. In 230 BC the Chinese Emperor used cloth wrapped around the necks of his warriors to designate rank. In ancient rome, the Sudariumor “sweat cloth” was initially used by Romans to wipe their necks and faces. In ancient Egypt, scarves indicated social status. A brief Western history of the scarf: While advancing their empire into Germany, Roman soldiers wore a“focale” around the neck for warmth. Roman officers wore red scarves over their armor as well. After the Roman empire fell, The Romanians and Croatians maintained the military tradition. In the 17th century, the Croatian army arrived in Paris, celebrating their victory over the Turks and wearing bright red scarves called cravats. King Louis XIV of France became instantly enamored of these scarves, deciding they should be a symbol of royalty. He even designated a person at court whose sole responsibility was to make sure there were plenty of scarves at the ready. Napoleon was also fond of scarves, particularly those of Indian origin. Hermès got their start producing scarves based on the design that Napoleon’s soldiers wore. The commonality in all of these stories is the military and aristocratic origins of the scarf. The story of Hermès is indicative of the aspirational power of these groups. Soon the scarf as fashion filtered down into wide use across all of Europe and the Americas. One could argue that Hermès secured the role of the scarf in the modern world of fashion. However, as we’ve seen above, it takes iconic individuals to create a true fashion trend. In our modern media driven era those individuals were the female film stars of the 50’s and 60’s, women like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Other celebrities following their paths include Madonna, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, and Jessica Alba to name but a few. Scarves now come in so many different colors, patterns, fabrics, materials, shapes and sizes, there’s no reason not to have multiple. And we, of course, believe multiple Alpaca scarves are an essential component of your closet.