History of Scarves

Are you curious about how the scarf became the massive fashion accessory it is today? With origins dating back to ancient Egypt, East India and Rome, the scarves, stoles have a come a long way from history today

Scarves have been worn since ancient times.^[1] The Statue of Ashurnasrpal 2 from the 9th century BC features the emperor wearing a shawl. In Ancient Rome, the garment was used to keep clean rather than warm. It was called a focale or sudarium (sudarium from the Latin for “sweat cloth”), and was used to wipe the sweat from the neck and face in hot weather. They were originally worn by men around their neck or tied to their belt.

The modern scarf has its origins all the way in Ancient Egypt, where the first recorded scarf was used by Queen Nefertiti who was said to have worn a “tightly woven scarf topped with a conical headdress” in 1350 BC. Under the Chinese Emperor Cheng, scarves made of cloth were used to mark military rank. Later on in Croatia, the scarf continued to play a role in military ranking, with higher ups wearing silk scarves and lower ranking soldiers wearing cotton.

However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that scarves became a popular fashion accessory. For the greatest portion of its history, the scarf was subjected to use as a sweat cloth, or to keep clean. That changed when fashion designers saw the potential to capitalize on the fabrics and designs coming out of regions such as India.

As scarves grew in popularity, manufacturers experimented with various types of fabrics. These included silk, cloth, cashmere, chiffon, cotton, wool mixes, muslin, and modal. The original scarves are believed to have been designed from wool fibers, with more polished versions forming in China when silk was the prized fabric.

Today, high-end fashion designers around the world produce custom printed scarves in collaboration with innovative designers. Graphics can be pulled from fresh artwork and applied to premium fabrics to create one-of-a-kind designs. Scarves are more than just a fashion statement; they are truly a work of art.

The scarf became a real fashion accessory by the early 19th century for both men and women. By the middle of the 20th century, scarves became one of the most essential and versatile clothing accessories for both men and women.

At SAM INC you can purchase wide range of scarves and customize your design accordingly.