The Origin And History Of Neckties

By Leanna Freeman


Quite a number of people wonder how such a seemingly useless clothing piece like a necktie was ever made to be worn. According to some anthropologists, it might be the earliest ever worn clothing pieces, and our ancestors wore them around their necks in the form of a strip of fur. In the real sense, how neckties came to existence is part of world history as well as fashion history.

This clothing accessory that is either loved or hated by men has taken quite a path throughout the ages. These ties have evolved by the unique influences of events which affected mens fashion in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The earliest evidence of people wearing neckties was by the Chinese. Shih Huang Ti, who was the first emperor of china, was so afraid of death that he gave orders that replicas of his army personnel be buried with him for protection. His death occurred in 210 BC, and upon the discovery of his tomb in 1974, each of the elaborately detailed terracotta replicas preserved inside wore neck ties or cloths.

During Roman times, the ties were also present. In 113 AD, following one of his many victories, the Emperor Trajan made a marble column consisting of reliefs that featured hundreds of soldiers, most of whom were donning a necktie. Some historians are of the opinion that these soldiers wore the ties to absorb sweat or guard against cold weather.

While the necktie has been around for millennia in one form or another, it was due to the Croatians wearing them in the seventeenth century that they became a fashion statement. After assisting in a battle against the Hapsburg Empire, King Louis XIV was presented with thousands of soldiers. Among these soldiers was a regiment of Croat marines, some of whom were wearing colourful cravats.

The Frenchmen were impressed by these adornments as they had never seen them before, to the extent that they son started wearing them. By late the 18th century when the French Revolution was taking place, the French troops had an elite regiment called the Cravat Royale. This work was derived from a French phrase as a way of thanking them for introducing the neck ties.

The wearing of the neck ties did not take too long to spread. In 1660, Charles II returned to England from exile to get back the throne he had lost when the English Civil War broke out. He was accompanied by aristocrats who introduced the cravat to the English people, where it underwent transformation into a necktie. Its popularity soon soared, spreading as a statement of fashion in Europe, the US, and across the world.

A major contributor to necktie development was an American tie designer known as Jesse Langsdorf. He came up with the simple idea of cutting three pieces of fabric and the sewing them together. He also invented the slip stitch, whose aim was to close the envelop at the back of the tie. This stitch also eliminated the need for iron the tie and damage resulting from frequent use.

It is fair to state that neckties are here to stay, considering their history and how various societies have contributed to this piece of clothing. Not only have they become a tradition, but also a vital element of mens fashion.




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