Draping grace
Winter brings its personal sense of fashion. Bright shades inevitably sail into our wardrobes to elevate our spirits in the otherwise cold and dry season. Long coats, leather jackets, over-sized cardigans and vibrant sweaters are surely every woman’s friend in the chilly weather, but one elegant and sophisticated piece that invariably finds its way into a woman’s closet is the ever-graceful shawl.
Colourful, floral and relatively warm, shawls have been used as a fashion accessory for eons. They are still quite popular with women today as they enhance their look without having to put a great deal of effort into dressing. Many designers now make shawls a part of their winter collection, and boutiques, garment shops and even roadside stalls begin to display numerous beautiful, multi-coloured shawls once the winter starts.
But have you wondered where these decorative drapes come from?
The tale of shawls
It is said that shawls or ‘Shals’ were first used in the ancient Assyrian times. However, as far as we have the recorded history of shawls, historians agree that they were widely worn in Kashmir, an important place (at that time and even today) through which ancient knowledge, wealth and various utility products were passed to the rest of the world. The shawls were exported too, but were very expensive and had different patterns embroidered on them because of which by the 18th century they became a status symbol for the English and French elite.
Gradually, the demand amplified across Europe and the supply dwindled; so in the early 1780s, England and France began making their own shawls, destroying the exclusivity of the original Kashmiri shawls. Different motifs began appearing on shawls but paisley (mango-shaped design) became a widespread vogue in Europe and is still prevalent there.
An almost must-have accessory in winter can add value to your outfit
During the 1870s, shawls became a prominent part of the folk dress in Germany, Spain, Latin America and the Near East. In the first decade of the 19th century, China too began manufacturing and exporting shawls called ‘China shals’, making this item of clothing very common around the world.
Some cultures still have shawls as a part of their national dress just because they were so commonly used in the earlier times.
Wear a shawl
Seeing women wrapped comfortably in beautiful shawls is a sight not uncommon at winter weddings and outdoors evening parties. One can’t help but admire the fabric, colours and embroidery on most of the shawls. From cashmere to pashminas to loom knits, you can match them with your dress to create that delicate look which wins hearts during the dry, dull, cold weather.