Шарф: история, виды и способы ношения

Garment of fabric worn around neck or head

A scarf (: scarves or scarfs) is a long piece of fabric that is worn on or around the neck, shoulders, or head. A scarf is used for warmth, sun protection, cleanliness, fashion, religious reasons, or to show support for a sports club or team. Scarves can be made from materials including wool, linen, silk, and cotton. It is a common type of neckwear and a perennial accessory.

Scarves have been worn since ancient times. In 1350 BC, in Ancient Egypt, Queen Nefertiti is said to have worn a tightly woven headscarf, and a 9th century BC statue of Ashurnasirpal II depicts the emperor wearing a shawl. In 500 BC in Athens, women wore scarves to enhance their seductive charm; in the same period, Indian women wore them flirtatiously as headgear. During the reign of the Chinese Emperor Cheng, from 259 to 210 BC, scarves were used as military markers to identify the rank of Chinese warriors or their status as officers; many of the Terracotta Warriors are depicted wearing them.

In Ancient Rome, around AD 10, the garment was used for cleanliness rather than warmth. It was called a focale or sudarium and was used to wipe sweat from the neck and face in hot weather. Scarves were originally worn by men around their necks or were tied to belts. In the New England region of North America, bereaved families were given a scarf as a thank you gift, as a mark of respect. The scarf became a real fashion accessory by the early 19th century for both men and women. Winter scarves are used in cold climates; these are thick and knitted; and are often made of wool or alpaca, or other similar warm materials. A winter scarf is tied around the neck to conserve warmth. The winter scarf is sometimes called a muffler, and is usually accompanied by a heavy jacket or coat. The winter scarf can be wrapped around the face and ears for additional protection from cold. In India, woollen scarves with Bandhani work adopting tie and dye techniques are commonly worn in Bhuj and Mandvi in the Kutch District of Gujarat. In India and elsewhere there is a trend of wearing a scarf or dupatta as a safeguard against pollution. In Indonesia and Malaysia the slenddang is a native scarf or sash, wide and long that is worn principally by the Malaysian women, being draped over one shoulder and across the body diagonally. They are both printed and coloured. Scarves that are used to cover the lower part of the face, and in particular the neck, are sometimes called cowls. Scarves can colloquially be called a neck wrap. Scarves can be tied in many ways, including the pussy cat bow, the square knot, the cowboy bib, the ascot knot, the loop, the necktie, and the gipsy kerchief. Scarves have also been tied on the head as a headscarf. Monarchs, including Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I, have worn the headscarf. During the late 1990s, it was a fashion trend with hip hop and R&B artists. During the period of silent films, actors Anna May Wong and Evelyn Brent wore headscarves of sophisticated silks and popularised them. In Islamic religious culture, wearing a head scarf is linked to the Quran. In Saudi Arabia, wearing a head scarf is necessary to face the harsh climate and intense heat, even before Islam was adopted. During the same period, Christians and Jews also covered their hair with veils as dictated by their sacred texts. Scarves are also used as fashion accessories with evening gowns by draping them over the shoulders or arms; one example is the feather boa.

The ecclesiastical scarf was originally a loose wrap or muffler (band) that was worn around the neck when out of doors. In the English Church, in post Reformation times, the minister wore the scarf over the surplice, which was a broad band of black silk with fringed ends arranged like the stole around the neck but falling nearly to the feet. The scarf's use has been almost entirely replaced by that of the stole, with which it has sometimes been confused. Several Christian denominations include a scarf known as a stole as part of their liturgical vestments. In the English Church, the scarf of colour made of black silk, which is twice the width of a stole, is worn around the neck of chaplains, doctors of religion, and other clergy. Mourners at funerals wear a black scarf made of silk or crape over the right shoulder. Scarves of coloured silk are worn on public occasions, and in the courts and lodges by members of many social orders, such as Foresters and Odd fellows. In a procession organised by the Masonic Lodge, marshals wear a cocked hat, sword, and scarf. In the procession, the colour of the scarf is mandatorily blue for Subordinate Lodge and purple for the Grand Lodge.

The knitting garments such as scarves is an important trade in some countries. Hand knitted scarves are still common as gifts. Printed scarves are offered internationally through high fashion design houses, including Burberry, Missoni, Alexander McQueen, Valentino,Cole Haan, Chanel, Etro, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton and Prada. Hermès, which made its first scarf in 1937, has produced more than 2,000 designs. In 1937, Hermès designed a woodblock scarf made of Chinese silk that was worn by Queen Elizabeth II of England, American First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Grace Kelly.