To the minds of those residing in cold climates, a humble scarf is a necessity and symbol of warmth and comfort. But to those who live in more temperate to warm climates, you may find the scarf to be a manifestation of clothing that seldom sees the world outside of a handful of cooler days in a year.

While Winter may be what first comes to mind for many upon the word scarf, these diverse pieces of clothing offer many functionalities and can range from hand-painted to dyed while incorporating embellishments that are unique to the culture and purpose they are derived from. Scarves in many forms have been touted as far back as ancient Rome, Egypt and Imperial China and worn in religious cultures for over 6,000 years. Serving a range of purposes including cleanliness, seduction and rank, it’s nearly impossible to imagine a world without this decorative fashion. In dry, dusty climates, a scarf made of lighter material serves as a head or face covering to keep clean from contaminants in the air. We’ve all experienced some evolutionary form of this during the Covid-19 pandemic! 

In areas of India and Malaysia, scarves of vibrantly saturated hues are draped over the body, creating fantastical layers of color and texture. And in less historical terms, a scarf that likely doubled as your travel pillow against the window of an airplane can transform in the light of day into a sarong on the beach, only to morph once again into a shawl for brisk evening affairs. Equal parts functionality, convention and fashion, we believe a scarf offers a lot more than warmth. A well-made scarf in a versatile textile or unique print can be a year-round staple. Fashioned around your hair in the likes of Grace Kelly, wrapped around your waist for coverage and accentuation, covering your head and shoulders while visiting religious places of worship in your travels, tied and twisted around your torso as a bohemian blouse, or simply wrapped around the neck as an expression of personal style. The scarf deserves more time in the wild than it is often exposed to. We hope you creatively re-think the scarves in your life, and perhaps invest in one from our curated collection with your new-found attitude of this historically significant piece of clothing.

Until next time, keep it sunny. -GDC